よたよた

よたよた
adverb, onomatopoeia
tottering; staggering; unsteady on one's feet
movement
1. tottering; staggering; walking unsteadily
Describes a wobbling, unstable walk — as of a toddler, an elderly person, a drunk, or someone too exhausted to keep their balance. More emphatic than よろよろ, often suggesting a precarious, almost-falling gait.
よたよたと歩(ある)いた。
I walked unsteadily.
赤(あか)ちゃんがよたよたと歩(ある)き始(はじ)めた。
The baby started tottering along.
疲(つか)れ切(き)って、よたよたしながら駅(えき)まで帰(かえ)った。
Exhausted, I made my way back to the station, staggering.

Mimetic of unsteady walking. Used adverbially with と or by itself; also combines with する as よたよたする (to walk unsteadily).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • よろよろ: tottering — similar but slightly less dramatic; suggests swaying
  • ふらふら: woozy; staggering — emphasizes dizziness rather than weakness
  • ヨボヨボ: feeble; decrepit — of old age, more about general frailty than a walk

Related Words

Compare: よろよろ (tottering)
Compare: ふらふら (woozy)
Compare: とぼとぼ (trudging wearily, plodding along)
Compare: ひょこひょこ (bobbing)
general
Added 2026.6.6 11:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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