Japanese word

くすぐったい

Pronunciation

Romajikusuguttai

Meaning

i-adjectiveticklish

Example

首を触られるとくすぐったいです。kubi o sawa ra re ru to ku su gu tta i de su

It feels ticklish when my neck is touched.

More examples

足の裏を羽でなぞると、くすぐったく感じます。ashi no ura o hane de na zo ru to ku su gu tta ku kan ji ma su

When the soles of my feet are traced with a feather, they feel ticklish.

Core concept

Describes the involuntary, laughter-like discomfort produced by a gentle touch on a sensitive part of the body.

Common phrases

くすぐったい感覚ku su gu tta i kan kaku
ticklish sensation
くすぐったいところku su gu tta i to ko ro
ticklish spot

Similar words

こそばゆいkosobayui: Describes a tickling discomfort caused by light contact with a sensitive body area.

Definition in Japanese

軽い接触によって、笑い出しそうなこそばゆい感覚が生じるさま。karu i ses shoku ni yo tte wara i da shi sō na ko so ba yu i kan kaku ga shō ji ru sa ma

Word origin

The native Japanese adjective くすぐったい (kusuguttai, "ticklish") is related to the verb くすぐる (kusuguru, "to tickle"), but its exact historical formation is uncertain.

Usage tips

Because the brain predicts self-produced touch, people usually cannot make themselves feel くすぐったい (kusuguttai, "ticklish").

Related words

くすぐったさkusuguttasaticklishnessnoun