What’s the Difference Between “Furu Furu,” “Puru Puru,” and “Buru Buru” in Japanese?

Ever seen pudding wobble lightly on a plate?
Or mochi bounce back with chewy strength?
Or someone shaking all over from the cold?

In Japanese, these moments have their own adorable onomatopoeia:

Furu Furu (ふるふる),

Puru Puru (ぷるぷる),

and Buru Buru (ぶるぶる).

What is “Furu Furu” (ふるふる)?

• Light trembling, delicate wobble.
• Used for: pudding, jelly, flan, or small soft things.
• Nuance: gentle, fragile, cute.

Example: The pudding trembled on the plate — furu furu!

Pronunciation

foo-roo foo-roo (soft, fine vibration)

あわせて読みたい

What Is “Furu Furu”? The Japanese Sound of Wobbling and Trembling Ever scooped a spoonful of pudding and watched it jiggle on the plate? Or seen a bowl of jelly quiver when you tap the table? That’s when the Japanese onomat…

What is “Puru Puru” (ぷるぷる)?

• Bouncy, elastic jiggle.
• Used for: mochi, gummies, tofu, soft skin.
• Nuance: springy, juicy, lively.

Example: The mochi bounced back when pressed — puru puru!

Pronunciation

poo-roo poo-roo (round, bouncy jiggle)

What is “Buru Buru” (ぶるぶる)?

• Strong, repeated shaking.
• Used for: shivering with cold, fear, or intense vibration.
• Nuance: powerful, continuous, often related to the body.

Example: She stood outside in winter, shivering all over — buru buru!

Pronunciation

boo-roo boo-roo (deep, strong shake)

あわせて読みたい

What Does “Buru Buru” Mean in Japanese? The Sound of Shivering and Trembling When you’re freezing cold, scared out of your wits, or something is shaking with a buzz — the Japanese onomatopoeia “Buru Buru” might be just what you need! …

Cultural Note

In English, you’d probably just say “wobbly” or “shaky.”
But Japanese distinguishes levels of intensity:

• Furu Furu = gentle wobble
• Puru Puru = chewy bounce
• Buru Buru = strong shiver

That’s why these words show up so often in anime, manga, and everyday life — they carry feelings beyond simple “shake.”

Examples in Daily Life

Example 1: Bavarois on a plate

The bavarois trembled softly — furu furu.

Example 2: Fresh mochi

He poked it, and it bounced back — puru puru.

Example 3: Cold winter night

He hugged himself, shivering hard — buru buru.

Try Using Them!

Eating jelly? Say furu furu!

Pressing mochi? Say puru puru!

Shivering outside? Say buru buru!