むくむく

むくむく
adverb, onomatopoeia
rising up; swelling; welling up; fluffy and plump
appearanceemotion
1. rising up; swelling up; billowing
Describes something rising or expanding in a large, dynamic way. Often used for clouds, smoke, or dough puffing up.
入道雲(にゅうどうぐも)がむくむくと湧(わ)き上(あ)がる。
Cumulonimbus clouds billow upward.
煙(けむり)がむくむくと立(た)ち上(のぼ)った。
Smoke rose up in great puffs.
パンの生地(きじ)がむくむくと膨(ふく)らんできた。
The bread dough swelled up nicely.
2. welling up (feelings); surging
Describes emotions, motivation, or desire rising strongly and irresistibly from within.
好奇心(こうきしん)がむくむくと湧(わ)いてきた。
Curiosity welled up inside me.
話(はなし)を聞(き)いて、やる気(き)がむくむくと湧(わ)いた。
After hearing the story, motivation surged within me.
怒(いか)りがむくむくとこみ上(あ)げてきた。
Anger welled up inside me.
3. fluffy; plump; rotund
Describes something or someone that is round, puffy, and soft-looking.
むくむくとした子犬(こいぬ)。
A fluffy, plump puppy.
冬毛(ふゆげ)でむくむくになった猫(ねこ)がかわいい。
The cat, all fluffy with its winter coat, is cute.
むくむくした体型(たいけい)のキャラクターが人気(にんき)だ。
Characters with a round, plump body type are popular.

A mimetic word (onomatopoeia/gitaigo) that conveys a sense of something expanding, rising, or being round and puffy. Often used with the particle と.

Common patterns

  • むくむくと湧(わ)き上(あ)がる: to billow/well up
  • むくむくと膨(ふく)らむ: to swell/puff up
  • むくむくと湧(わ)く: to well up (feelings)
  • むくむくとした～: fluffy, plump ~

Related words

  • もくもく: billowing (especially smoke/clouds) — similar to sense 1 but more visual
  • ふわふわ: fluffy; soft — lighter and gentler than むくむく
  • ぷくぷく: chubby; plump — for people, especially babies

Related Words

Related: 黙々(もくもく) (billowing)
Related: ふわふわ (fluffy)
Related: ぷくぷく (chubby)
general
Added 2026.4.4 5:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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