こっそり

• 読み: こっそり
• ローマ字: kossori
• 発音: /ko.sso.ɾi/

意味

Stealthily; secretly; in secret. Describes doing something quietly so as not to be noticed.

A mimetic adverb describing an action performed furtively, trying not to attract attention. Can be playful (こっそりお菓子を食べる — secretly eating sweets) or serious (こっそり抜け出す — sneaking out). Does not necessarily imply malicious intent — often used for minor, everyday secretiveness. Similar to ひそかに (secretly) but more colloquial and vivid. Frequently pairs with verbs of movement or consumption.

例文

1. 子どもがこっそりお菓子を食べていた。
2. 会議中にこっそり部屋を抜け出した。
3. 彼はこっそりサプライズパーティーを準備した。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily life, children, surprises

トーン: playful

起源と歴史

A Japanese mimetic word (擬態語) conveying the quality of quiet, furtive movement. The small っ (geminate consonant) adds a sense of compression and hushed quickness, mirroring the restrained motion of someone trying not to be noticed.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal