Ever had a bowl of ramen or udon, and instead of a loud, heavy slurp, you sip the noodles in a small, light flow?
That’s when the Japanese onomatopoeia “Churu Churu” comes in — a sound of gently and playfully slurping.
Before we dive in, hear what it sounds like!
What is “Churu Churu” (ちゅるちゅる)?
“Churu Churu” is a Japanese onomatopoeia that describes the light, playful sound of slurping noodles or similar foods.
- It’s often used for a small amount of noodles — like when a child is eating, or when you just take a delicate sip.
- It’s softer than “Zuzu zuzu”, which usually suggests a larger, noisier slurp.
It carries a friendly, sometimes even cute nuance, often appearing in manga, anime, and everyday family scenes.
Pronunciation
choo-roo choo-roo
(Say it lightly and smoothly, like noodles slipping into your mouth.)
Category
Sound
What Does “Churu Churu” Look Like?
It looks like thin noodles sliding between chopsticks.
Like udon or ramen moving smoothly into your mouth.
Like kids eating happily, noodle by noodle.
How Do You Say It?
Say it softly, with a flowing rhythm:
Churu… churu…
Like sipping noodles lightly, not too much at once:
Churu churu
Example in Daily Life
Eating ramen
He leaned over the bowl,
picked up a few noodles,
and slurped them gently —
churu churu
Cultural Note
In English, you might say:
- “slurp (lightly)”
- “sip noodles”
- “noodles slipping in”
But “Churu Churu” adds a playful, sound-based image. It doesn’t just describe the action — it lets you hear the noodles sliding, often in a way that feels small, light, and even cute.
Watch & Feel the “Churu Churu” World!
Feel the “Churu Churu” — The World of Noodles
It’s not noisy or messy.
It’s gentle, fun, and appetizing.
Try Using It!
When you sip noodles lightly…
When kids eat ramen cutely…
When udon goes down smoothly…
Say it playfully:
Churu churu〜
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