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Japanese Versatility List

Hunger, thirst and aches

Core words, Stage 4chunk 78 of 79Sound and feeling words

Lets you describe hunger, thirst, nausea, pain and shivering.

Mix-ups Karakara (parched) vs garagara (nearly empty).

pekopeko

polite pekopeko desu

starving (hungry); bowing again and again

Almost always onaka ga pekopeko (I'm starving).

Pekopeko suru = bow repeatedly, often meaning to grovel.

casual

mou onaka pekopeko da yo.

I'm already starving.

もうお腹ペコペコだよ。

polite

mou onaka ga pekopeko desu.

I'm already starving.

もうお腹がペコペコです。

Written ペコペコ · ぺこぺこ · ペコペコですRank #11107 in 3,030 TV dramas

karakara

polite karakara desu

parched; bone-dry

Usually nodo ga karakara (my throat's parched); also dry air or weather.

Also a rattling sound, and karakara warau (laugh heartily). A nearly empty place is garagara.

casual

nodo karakara, nanka nomou.

I'm parched, let's get something to drink.

喉カラカラ、なんか飲もう。

polite

nodo ga karakara desu. nani ka nomimashou.

I'm parched. Let's get something to drink.

喉がカラカラです。何か飲みましょう。

Written カラカラ · からから · カラカラですRank #19346 in 3,030 TV dramas

mukamuka

queasy, sick to your stomach; seething (angry)

Usually mukamuka suru, for nausea or for anger building up.

Anger sense: kao o miru dake de mukamuka suru (just seeing his face makes me mad). Related: mukatsuku (to get pissed off).

casual

nomisugite, mune ga mukamuka suru.

I drank too much and I feel sick.

飲みすぎて、胸がムカムカする。

polite

nomisugite, mune ga mukamuka shimasu.

I drank too much and I feel sick.

飲みすぎて、胸がムカムカします。

Written ムカムカ · むかむかRank #21184 in 3,030 TV dramas

zukizuki

throbbing (pain)

Usually X ga zukizuki suru, for a headache, toothache or wound.

Handy at a clinic; a sharp stabbing pain is kirikiri, a dull ache shikushiku.

casual

asa kara atama ga zukizuki suru n da.

My head's been throbbing since this morning.

朝から頭がズキズキするんだ。

polite

asa kara atama ga zukizuki suru n desu.

My head's been throbbing since this morning.

朝から頭がズキズキするんです。

Written ズキズキ · ずきずきRank #35046 in 3,030 TV dramas

buruburu

shivering; trembling

Shaking from cold or fear, often buruburu furueru.

Also a phone vibrating.

casual

samukute buruburu furueta yo.

It was so cold I was shivering.

寒くてぶるぶる震えたよ。

polite

samukute buruburu furuemashita.

It was so cold I was shivering.

寒くてぶるぶる震えました。

Written ぶるぶるRank #52308 in 3,030 TV dramas