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
general
Added 2026.4.28 22:34
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