Ever seen a long sleeve slowly hanging from a kimono?
Or watched someone’s hand dangle limply after a tiring day?
That’s when the Japanese onomatopoeia “Darari” (だらり) comes in — a word that gently paints a picture of something hanging down, slack, and unmoving.
Before we dive in, hear what it sounds like!
What is “Darari” (だらり) ?
“Darari” is a Japanese onomatopoeia that describes a state of something long, soft, or heavy hanging down loosely — often with a sense of lifelessness, exhaustion, or elegance.
It’s used to describe:
- Something long and limp dangling downward
- A slow, quiet fall of the arms or body
- Hair, sleeves, or ribbons hanging quietly
- A mood of physical or emotional slackness
It’s not sudden — it’s ongoing and silent.
Pronunciation
dah-rah-ree (slow and drawn out)
(Say it with a droop — as if your voice is falling gently at the end.)
Categories
Condition / Movement / Atmosphere
What Does “Darari” Look Like?
It looks like the sleeve of a kimono trailing softly down.
Like a wilted flower bending under its own weight.
Like someone too tired to hold themselves upright — their limbs hanging like cloth.
How Do You Say It?
Say it slowly — with the weight of a curtain drawing closed:
Darari…
Like a ribbon hanging from a branch,
or arms too tired to lift:
Darari…
Examples in Daily Life
Example 1: Hanging sleeves
Her kimono’s long sleeves
trailed down softly —
darari…
Example 2: Drooping arms
After the long hike,
his arms hung at his sides —
darari…
Cultural Note
In English, you might say:
- “Dangling”
- “Limp and lifeless”
- “Hanging low”
But in Japanese, “darari” captures both the appearance and the emotion — the physical softness and emotional looseness.
It’s often used in literature, anime, and visual storytelling to express tiredness, grace, sadness, or calm.
The word can be elegant, like trailing fabric, or melancholic, like a heart that’s quietly drooping.
Watch & Feel the “Darari” World!
Feel the quiet fall.
The stillness of weight.
The beauty in surrendering to softness.
Try Using It!
When your sleeves feel too long…
When your posture collapses slowly…
When your soul just… hangs…
Say it slowly, like a sigh:
Darari…
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