ふわり

ふわり

Japanese

Etymology

ふわ (fuwa, root of the onomatopoeia) + り (ri, suffix to make adverb).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ふわ​り [fùwáꜜrì] (Nakadaka – [2])[1]
• (Tokyo) ふわり​ [fùwáríꜜ] (Odaka – [3])[1]
• IPA^(key): [ɸɯ̟ᵝɰᵝa̠ɾʲi]

Adverb

ふわり • (fuwari) ^{←ふはり (fufari)?}

1. (onomatopoeia) being soft or swollen in the something light: softly, puffy, fluffy

   ふわりとした尻(しっ)尾(ぽ)

   fuwari to shita shippo

   a fluff of tail

2. (onomatopoeia) something's light and gentle floating; nimble or lightsome motion: lightly, airy, softly
   • 1819, Kobayashi, Issa, おらが春 [Ora ga haru]:

     蝶(てふ)蝶(てふ)のふはりととんだ茶(ちや)釜(がま)哉(かな)

     Chōchō no fuwari to tonda chagama kana

     There's a teapot, a butterfly softly flew off.

3. (onomatopoeia) gentle motion to cover a light object on something: gently, softly
   • 1782, 奈蒔野馬乎人(Namake no Bakahito), 洒落本 [Sharebon]: 山下珍作 [Yamashitachinsaku]:

     息(むす)子(こ)「てぬぐひをふわりとかぶり口(くち)にくわへて」

     Musuko “Tenugui o fuwari to kaburi kuchi ni kuwaete”

     Son: "Put gently a hand towel on, hold it on the mouth and—"

Related terms

• ふわつく (fuwatsuku)
• ふわっと (fuwatto)
• ふわふわ (fuwafuwa)
• ふんわり (funwari)
• ゆるふわ (yurufuwa)

References

1. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN