そろそろ

• 読み: そろそろ
• ローマ字: sorosoro
• 発音: /so.ɾo.so.ɾo/

意味

Soon; before long; gradually; slowly. Indicates something is about to happen or should happen now.

An onomatopoeic adverb with two senses: (1) 'it is about time to...' — implying the right moment has arrived; (2) 'slowly, gradually' — describing careful or unhurried movement. The first sense is far more common in daily conversation. Often used as a polite way to signal departure: そろそろ帰ります.

例文

1. そろそろ出かけましょうか。
2. そろそろ桜の季節ですね。
3. 赤ちゃんがそろそろ歩き始めるころです。

使い方ガイド

場面: departures, time expressions, daily life

トーン: gentle

起源と歴史

A mimetic (onomatopoeic) word imitating slow, careful movement. The repetition of そろ reinforces the sense of gradualism — something approaching step by step or progressing little by little.

文化的背景

時代: Early Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal