ちらちら

ちらちら
adverb, onomatopoeia
flickering; glancing; in small pieces
onomatopoeiadescriptive
1. flickering; twinkling; flashing
Describes light or small objects appearing and disappearing repeatedly in an unstable, intermittent way.
星(ほし)がちらちら光(ひか)っている。
The stars are twinkling.
ろうそくの火(ひ)がちらちら揺(ゆ)れている。
The candle flame is flickering.
木(き)の葉(は)の間(あいだ)から日(ひ)の光(ひかり)がちらちら見(み)えた。
Sunlight flickered through the gaps in the leaves.
2. glancing; stealing looks; peeking
Looking at something repeatedly but briefly, often in a furtive manner.
ちらちら見(み)るな。
Stop glancing over here.
彼女(かのじょ)は彼(かれ)のことをちらちら見(み)ていた。
She kept stealing glances at him.
授業中(じゅぎょうちゅう)、隣(となり)の席(せき)の子(こ)がちらちらこちらを見(み)てきた。
During class, the kid in the next seat kept glancing my way.
3. in small pieces; lightly
Falling or appearing in small, sparse amounts (like light snow).
雪(ゆき)がちらちら降(ふ)ってきた。
Snow started to fall lightly.
桜(さくら)の花(はな)びらがちらちら散(ち)っている。
Cherry blossom petals are drifting down in small flurries.
朝(あさ)からちらちら雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)っていたが、午後(ごご)には止(や)んだ。
Light snow was falling since morning, but it stopped in the afternoon.

Onomatopoeia type

Giseigo/gitaigo - mimetic word expressing manner of action.

Common collocations

Related mimetics

Usage

ちらちら suggests intermittent, unstable, or furtive action - not continuous or steady.

Register

Neutral. Common in everyday conversation.

Related Words

Related: きらきら (sparkling, glittering)
Related: ぴかぴか (shiny, gleaming)
Related: じろじろ (staring)
Compare: ちらり (briefly)
Compare: ちらりと (briefly)
general
Added 2026.1.19 16:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07407_chirachira