ぞくぞく

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Japanese

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

Adjective

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

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 surusuru (stem ぞくぞく (zokuzoku shi), past ぞくぞくした (zokuzoku 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

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. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典(新装版) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN