たじたじ
たじたじ
adverb
faltering; flinching; at a loss
1.
faltering; flinching; being driven back; at a loss when confronted
The state of being overwhelmed or pushed back by someone's forcefulness, sharp arguments, or intense pressure, unable to hold one's ground.
彼女の勢いにたじたじとなった。
I was taken aback by her forcefulness.
鋭い質問に、先生もたじたじだった。
Even the teacher was flustered by the sharp questions.
相手チームの激しい攻撃に守備陣はたじたじとなり、後半だけで3点失った。
The defense faltered under the opposing team's fierce attack and conceded three goals in the second half alone.
An onomatopoeic/mimetic word describing the state of being pushed back or overwhelmed by someone's force, argument, or intensity. Evokes the image of someone physically or mentally retreating.
USAGE:
- Most commonly used with となる or だ: たじたじとなる (to become flustered/overwhelmed), たじたじだ (to be at a loss)
- Describes a reactive state — being unable to hold one's ground against pressure
- Used for both physical confrontations (sports, fights) and verbal/intellectual ones (debates, arguments)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- たじたじとなる: to be driven back, to falter
- たじたじになる: to become flustered
- 勢いにたじたじ: overwhelmed by someone's forcefulness
- 攻撃にたじたじ: reeling from an attack
SIMILAR WORDS:
- たじろぐ: to flinch, to waver — a verb with similar meaning, but describes a momentary hesitation
- 圧倒される: to be overwhelmed — stronger and more formal
- おろおろ: flustered, at a loss — describes confusion and panic rather than being pushed back