とことこ

とことこ
adverb, onomatopoeia
trotting along; toddling; walking with quick little steps
movementdescriptive
1. walking along with quick, light steps
A mimetic word for the way a small child, small animal, or short-legged person moves: short, rapid, steady steps that cover ground without hurrying. The impression is light and often endearing.
子(こ)どもがとことこ歩(ある)く。
The child toddles along.
犬(いぬ)がとことこついてきた。
The dog came trotting after me.
妹(いもうと)はとことこと台所(だいどころ)まで歩(ある)いていって、冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)を開(あ)けた。
My little sister trotted off to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

A mimetic adverb (擬態語(ぎたいご)). Used with or without と before the verb; とことこと is slightly more literary.

Common collocations

  • とことこ歩(ある)く: to trot along
  • とことこついてくる: to come trotting after someone
  • とことこ走(はし)る: to run along with small quick steps

Similar words

  • よちよち: toddling unsteadily — emphasizes wobbliness, used of babies just learning to walk
  • すたすた: striding briskly — purposeful, adult, no hint of cuteness
  • ちょこちょこ: moving in small quick steps — similar, but suggests restless back-and-forth rather than steady progress

Related Words

Compare: すたすた (striding briskly)
Compare: ちょこちょこ (moving in small quick steps)
general
Added 2026.8.1 6:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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