1.
hurriedly; in a rush; hastily
Describes leaving or acting quickly, often because one feels uncomfortable, awkward, or eager to get away from a situation.
そそくさと帰った。
He left in a hurry.
An onomatopoeic adverb describing hurried, somewhat restless movement. Unlike neutral words for 'quickly,' そそくさと carries a nuance of wanting to escape a situation — the person feels uncomfortable, guilty, or simply doesn't want to linger.
Common collocations
- そそくさと帰る: to hurry home
- そそくさと立ち去る: to leave hastily
- そそくさと片づける: to hastily clean up
- そそくさと席を立つ: to hastily leave one's seat
Usage
The と particle is almost always attached. Can also appear without と as そそくさ before certain verbs. The word implies a psychological motivation for haste — the person isn't just fast, they actively want to leave or finish.