いそいそ

• Reading: いそいそ
• Romaji: isoiso
• Pronunciation: /i.so.i.so/

Meaning

Cheerfully; joyfully; eagerly. Describes someone acting with visible excitement or happy anticipation.

A mimetic adverb (擬態語) that depicts someone moving or acting with cheerful eagerness, often in anticipation of something pleasant. Frequently paired with と (いそいそと) before verbs of motion like 出かける or 準備する. It carries a warm, slightly endearing nuance — the person is visibly delighted.

Examples

1. 彼女はデートの準備をいそいそと始めた。 She eagerly started getting ready for her date.
2. 祖母はお客さんが来ると聞いていそいそと料理を作り始めた。 When grandma heard that guests were coming, she cheerfully started cooking.
3. 新しい職場の初日、彼はいそいそと家を出た。 On his first day at his new job, he left the house with a spring in his step.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, narrative, describing demeanor

Tone: warm

Origin & History

A traditional Japanese mimetic word (擬態語) describing the manner of someone moving about with cheerful eagerness. The reduplicated structure is characteristic of Japanese onomatopoeia and mimetic expressions.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal