Let’s learn some onomatopoeic words: “muki-muki” and “muchi-muchi”

June 3rd, 2013By Category: Uncategorized

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【muki muki むきむき/ muchi muchi むちむち】

Japanese is famous for having many onomatopoeic words. Today, we will learn two interesting expressions which can be used in daily situations. They are: “muki muki” and “muchi muchi”.

Both “muki muki” and “muchi muchi” are onomatopoeic words describing physicality of people.

Muki muki

Example: A conversation between two women
A: Did you see Lee Byung Hun in “G.I. Joe”?
B: Yep! He’s a real hunk (muki muki).
A: I heard he buffed up for this movie.
B: Wow.

例:女性同士の会話
A:「G.I.ジョー」のイビョンホン、見た?
B: 見た!すごい、むきむきだったね。
A: 映画のために鍛えたんだって。
B: さすが。

Rei:Jyosei doushi no kaiwa
A:「G.I.Joe」no Lee Byung Hun mita?
B:  Mita! Sugoi muki muki dattane.
A:  Eiga no tameni kitaetan datte.
B:  Sasuga.

Muchi muchi
Example: A conversation between mother and daughter (high school student)
Mother: Aren’t you going to eat dinner?
Daughter: I’m on a diet. Look at these legs – too fat.
Mother: Young people look adorable because they’re plump (muchi muchi).
Daughter: Muchi muchi!? That’s the worst.

例:母と娘(高校生)の会話
母:夕飯、食べないの?
娘:いまダイエット中。見てよ、この足、太すぎる。
母:若い子はむちむちしてるからかわいいのに。
娘:むちむち!?最悪。

Rei:Haha to Musume (koukousei) no Kaiwa
Haha:Yuuhan tabenaino?
Musume:Ima diet chuu.  Miteyo, kono ashi, futosugiru.
Haha:Wakaiko wa muchi muchi shiteru kara kawaii noni.
Musume:Muchi muchi!? Saiaku.

You may want to memorize these words by associating “muki muki” with muscles and “muchi muchi” with fat. “Muchi muchi” must have energetic and bouncy feeling. You can use “muchi muchi” to express a sumo wrestler’s body or a baby’s arms.

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Author of this article

Iidabashi Japanese Language School

The Iidabashi Japanese Language School motto is "Be Unique, Have fun Globally!" We teach classes focused on conversation skills to foreigners living in Japan.

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