1.
here and there; sparsely; now and then; in small numbers
Describes things appearing in small, scattered numbers rather than all at once — a few flowers open, a few people visible, a rumor heard occasionally. Often marks the very beginning of something that will later become general.
A mimetic adverb, often used with と (ちらほらと). It suggests small numbers scattered across space or time, and frequently signals an early stage: a few blossoms, a few early arrivals, the first stray comments.
Common collocations
- ちらほら見える: to be visible here and there
- ちらほら咲く: to bloom sparsely
- ちらほら聞こえる: to be heard now and then
- ちらほら集まる: to gather in ones and twos