こっそり
こっそり
adverb
secretly; stealthily; quietly
1.
secretly; stealthily; on the sly
Describes doing something quietly and secretly so as not to be noticed by others. Often implies a deliberate attempt to avoid detection.
こっそり部屋を出た。
I slipped out of the room quietly.
彼はこっそり手紙を読んでいた。
He was reading the letter secretly.
親に見つからないようにこっそりお菓子を食べた。
I ate snacks on the sly so my parents wouldn't find out.
こっそり implies intentional secrecy, often to avoid being caught or noticed.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- こっそり〜する: to do something secretly
- こっそりと: variant with と particle
- こっそり抜け出す: to sneak out
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- ひそかに: secretly (more literary)
- 内緒で: in secret
- こそこそ: sneakily (often with negative connotation)