Japanese word

しゃっくり

Pronunciation

Romajishakkuri

Meaning

  • nounhiccup

Example

水を飲むとしゃっくりが止まります。mizu o no mu to sha kku ri ga to ma ri ma su

My hiccups stop when I drink water.

Illustration for しゃっくり (hiccup)

More examples

驚いた拍子にしゃっくりが出ました。odoro i ta hyō shi ni sha kku ri ga de ma shi ta

I got hiccups when I was startled.

Core concept

Refers to a brief involuntary spasm of the breathing muscles that repeatedly interrupts normal breathing.

Common phrases

  • しゃっくりが止まるsha kku ri ga to ma ru

    hiccups stop

  • しゃっくりが出るsha kku ri ga de ru

    get hiccups

  • しゃっくりが続くsha kku ri ga tsuzu ku

    hiccups continue

Definition in Japanese

横隔膜が不随意にけいれんし、息を吸う動作が一時的に妨げられて音が出る現象。yoko kaku maku ga fu zui i ni ke i re n shi iki o sū dō sa ga ichi ji teki ni samata ge ra re te oto ga de ru gen shō

Word origin

しゃっくり (shakkuri) is a native Japanese noun related to しゃくる (shakuru), a word for a jerking or catching motion.

Usage tips

  • English can use hiccup as a verb and as a noun for a minor problem, whereas Japanese しゃっくり (shakkuri) is a noun for the physical symptom.

Word lists with this word