カチカチ
かちかち
adverb, na-adjective, onomatopoeia
clicking; hard; stiff
1.
clicking sound
The sound of hard objects repeatedly clicking or tapping against each other.
マウスをカチカチ押す。
To click the mouse repeatedly.
2.
hard; stiff; frozen
Describes something that has become very hard or stiff, often from cold or drying.
パンがカチカチに固くなった。
The bread became rock hard.
緊張してカチカチになった。
I got stiff from nervousness.
DUAL USAGE:
1. SOUND: Hard clicking noise (mouse, keyboard, heels on floor)
2. STATE: Being very hard, stiff, or frozen
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- カチカチに凍る: to freeze solid
- カチカチに固まる: to become rock hard
- カチカチ音がする: to make clicking sounds
- 肩がカチカチ: stiff shoulders
NUANCE:
Often written in katakana to emphasize the sound aspect, but hiragana is also common.
RELATED WORDS:
- ガチガチ: even harder/stiffer (stronger emphasis)
- コチコチ: stiff (especially from cold or tension)