カクカク

かくかく
adverb, onomatopoeia
jerky; choppy; stuttering (motion)
1. jerky; choppy; stuttering movement or animation
An onomatopoeic word describing motion that is not smooth — moving in sharp, angular, mechanical increments rather than fluidly. Commonly used for video playback, animation, or robotic movement.
動画(どうが)がカクカクしている。
The video is choppy/stuttering.
パソコンの性能(せいのう)(ひく)いせいで、ゲームがカクカクして(あそ)びにくい。
Because the computer's performance is poor, the game runs choppy and is hard to play.
通信速度(つうしんそくど)(おそ)くてビデオ通話(つうわ)映像(えいぞう)がカクカクになってしまった。
The connection was slow and the video call image became choppy.

An onomatopoeia describing jerky, non-fluid movement. Most frequently used in digital contexts to describe stuttering video or animation, but can describe any movement that proceeds in sharp, angular steps.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 動画(どうが)がカクカクする: video stutters/is choppy
  • カクカクした(うご)き: jerky movement
  • カクカクと(うご)く: to move in a jerky manner

RELATED WORDS:

  • (なめ)らか: smooth (the antonym in motion contexts)
  • ぬるぬる: very smooth, fluid (of motion; also used for slippery things)