ドキッと

• Reading: ドキッと
• Romaji: dokitto
• Pronunciation: /do.kit.to/

Meaning

With a start; being startled; getting a shock. Describes a sudden, heart-pounding surprise.

An adverb derived from the onomatopoeia ドキドキ (heart pounding), describing a single, sharp moment of being startled or shocked. The small ッ emphasises the sudden, instantaneous nature of the reaction. Used with する — ドキッとする (to be startled). Can describe both unpleasant surprises and pleasant ones, like an unexpected romantic moment. More sudden and brief than ドキドキ, which implies sustained nervousness.

Examples

1. 突然名前を呼ばれてドキッとした。 I got a start when my name was suddenly called.
2. 彼の言葉にドキッとして顔が赤くなった。 His words gave me a jolt and my face turned red.
3. 暗い道で猫が飛び出してきてドキッとした。 A cat jumped out on the dark road and I got a shock.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, romance, storytelling

Tone: surprised

Origin & History

From the Japanese onomatopoeia ドキ (doki), imitating the sound of a heartbeat. The suffix ッと adds an instantaneous, sharp quality, capturing a single moment of heart-stopping surprise rather than ongoing palpitations.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal