ちろちろ
ちろちろ
adverb
flickering; glancing sideways
1.
flickering; wavering
Describes small flames or lights flickering gently, with a soft, delicate movement.
ろうそくがちろちろ燃えている。
The candle is flickering.
ろうそくの炎がちろちろと揺れている。
The candle flame is flickering gently.
焚き火のちろちろとした光が暗闇に揺れていた。
The flickering light of the bonfire wavered in the darkness.
2.
glancing; stealing looks
Describes the action of looking at someone or something with quick, furtive glances.
彼女はちろちろとこちらを見ていた。
She kept stealing glances at me.
子供がちろちろと隣の人の弁当を見ている。
The child keeps sneaking glances at the person next to them's lunch.
気になる人をちろちろと見てしまって、目が合ったら慌ててそらした。
I kept stealing glances at the person I like, and when our eyes met, I hastily looked away.
ちろちろ is a gentle onomatopoeia, often associated with small flames or shy/furtive glances.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ちろちろ燃える: to burn flickeringly
- ちろちろ見る: to steal glances
CONTRAST:
- めらめら: burning intensely
- ゆらゆら: swaying gently (larger movements)
- じろじろ: staring rudely (more direct, impolite)