刻々(こっこく)と

こっこくと

adverb

moment by moment; with each passing minute

1. moment by moment; with each passing minute; constantly changing

Describes something that changes or progresses continuously with the passage of time, with each moment bringing noticeable change.

状況(じょうきょう)は刻々(こっこく)と変(か)わっている。

The situation is changing moment by moment.

締(し)め切(き)りが刻々(こっこく)と迫(せま)っている。

The deadline is approaching with each passing minute.

災害(さいがい)現場(げんば)の情報(じょうほう)が刻々(こっこく)と入(はい)ってくる。

Information from the disaster site keeps coming in moment by moment.

An adverb formed by repeating 刻(こく) (a unit of time; moment) with the particle と. Conveys urgency and continuous change. Often used in news reporting and descriptions of evolving situations. The repetition of 刻(こく) emphasizes the relentless, unstoppable passage of time.

Common collocations

刻々(こっこく)と変(か)わる: to change moment by moment
刻々(こっこく)と迫(せま)る: to approach minute by minute
刻々(こっこく)と過(す)ぎる: to pass moment by moment
刻々(こっこく)と悪化(あっか)する: to worsen by the minute

Similar words

次々(つぎつぎ)と: one after another — emphasizes succession of events rather than temporal progression
徐々(じょじょ)に: gradually — implies slow change without the urgency of 刻々(こっこく)と
時々刻々(じじこっこく): every moment (literary) — a more emphatic variant, emphasizing continuous change from hour to hour and minute to minute

Related Words

Compare: 次々(つぎつぎ)と (one after another)

Compare: 徐々(じょじょ)に (gradually)

Compare: 時々刻々(じじこっこく) (every moment)

general

Added 2026.4.28 22:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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