Have you ever been so excited about something that you could hardly wait?
Or felt so nervous or expectant that you just couldn’t sit still?
In Japanese, these two restless feelings are expressed with different sounds:
Waku Waku (わくわく)
Sowa Sowa (そわそわ)
They can both happen while waiting for something, but the emotion behind the restlessness is quite different.
Differences Between “Waku Waku” and “Sowa Sowa”
| Expression | Meaning | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Waku Waku (わくわく) | Feeling excited and full of anticipation | Positive, joyful, eager |
| Sowa Sowa (そわそわ) | Feeling restless because of expectation or anxiety | Uneasy, distracted, unable to settle down |
In short:
- Waku waku → excited about what is coming
- Sowa sowa → too restless to settle down
Examples in Daily Life
Example 1: Excited about a present (Waku Waku)
She looked at the big present in front of her,
imagining what might be inside —
waku waku…
Example 2: Restless about a present (Sowa Sowa)
She sat in front of the present, wondering when she could finally open it,
too restless to relax —
sowa sowa…
Try Using Them!
Can’t wait to open a present because you’re excited?
→ Say waku waku
Waiting for something and feeling too restless to settle down?
→ Say sowa sowa
Both can make your heart restless —
but one feels exciting, while the other makes it hard to relax!
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