ぞくぞく

Japanese

Etymology 1

From reduplication of (ぞく) (zoku),[1][2] itself from Middle Chinese (MC tshuwk, “crowded, bunched, gathered”).

Pronunciation

  • (Tokyo) くぞく [zòkúzókú] (Heiban – [0])[1]
  • IPA(key): [d͡zo̞kɯ̟ᵝzo̞kɯ̟ᵝ]

Adjective

ぞくぞく • (zokuzoku) -tari (adnominal ぞくぞくとした (zokuzoku to shita to shita) or ぞくぞくたる (zokuzoku taru taru), adverbial ぞくぞく (zokuzoku to to) or ぞくぞくとして (zokuzoku to shite to shite))

  1. 簇簇: (rare reading) grouped together, bunched up
Usage notes

Used with the adverbial particle (to).

More commonly read as そうそう (sōsō).[1][2]

Etymology 2

From reduplication of ideophonic element ぞく (zoku), also found in ぞくっと (zokutto) of similar meaning.[1][2]

Pronunciation

  • (Tokyo) くぞく [zóꜜkùzòkù] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
  • IPA(key): [d͡zo̞kɯ̟ᵝzo̞kɯ̟ᵝ]

A surface analysis suggests ideophonic (zo) expressing a sense of "buzz" or "shiver", appended with ideophonic (ku) possibly expressing a sudden change in state.

Likely cognate with the zo element in ぞっと (zotto, shiveringly, shockedly, startledly), ぞぞめく (zozomeku, to move or behave in a creeping, buzzing, rustling, impatient, or uncomfortable manner), ぞぞ(がみ) (zozogami, hair standing on end due to fright or shock).

Adverb

ぞくぞく • (zokuzoku) 

  1. shiveringly, with a shudder
    • 2018, Charlie N Holmberg, Fumiyo Harashima (tr.), Shinjitsu no majutsushi, translation of The Master Magician:
      (ゆび)(うら)(がわ)(くび)(すじ)をなでられ、(かた)(した)ぞくぞくとした(かん)(かく)(はし)る。「ありがとう」とエメリーは()った。
      Yubi no uragawa de kubisuji o naderare, kata no shita ni zokuzoku to shita kankaku ga hashiru. “Arigatō” to Emerī wa itta.
      The back of his fingers caressing the nape of her neck, a sensation ran shivering down her shoulders. "Thank you," Emery said.
Usage notes

May be used with the adverbial particle (to).

Synonyms

Verb

ぞくぞくする • (zokuzoku suru) suru (stem ぞくぞく (zokuzoku suru shi), past ぞくぞくした (zokuzoku suru shita))

  1. to shiver, to feel a chill, as from cold or fear
    (からだ)ぞくぞくしている。
    Karada ga zokuzoku shite iru.
    My body is shivering.
  2. to be vibrating as from joy or excitement
  3. to shudder from fear, to have the creeps
Usage notes

Zokuzoku implies an ongoing shiver, whereas synonyms zokutto and zotto imply a one-time shiver.

Synonyms

Etymology 3

From reduplication of (ぞく) (zoku, to continue),[1][2] itself from Middle Chinese (MC zjowk).

Pronunciation

  • (Tokyo) くぞく [zòkúzókú] (Heiban – [0])[1]
  • (Tokyo) くぞく [zóꜜkùzòkù] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
  • IPA(key): [d͡zo̞kɯ̟ᵝzo̞kɯ̟ᵝ]

Adverb

ぞくぞく • (zokuzoku) 

  1. 続続, 続々: successively, one after another
Usage notes

Used with the adverbial particle (to).

References

  1. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  2. Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典(新装版) [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
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