Ever felt someone glance at you from across the room?
Or caught yourself peeking at something you shouldn’t?
In Japanese, that swift, one-time moment is expressed perfectly by:
Chira! (ちらっ!)
Before we dive in, hear what it sounds like!
What is “Chira!” (ちらっ!)?
“Chira!” is a Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses a brief, single moment of looking — like a quick glance, peek, or side-eye.
It’s short, sharp, and focused — the opposite of “chira chira,” which is about fluttering or soft repetition.
Nuance:
- Momentary
- Quiet, subtle
- Slightly secretive, curious — sometimes awkward or shy
Pronunciation
chi-ra (short and light — said quickly like a blip)
Categories
Motion
What Does “Chira!” Look Like?
- A student sneaking a peek at their crush
- Someone glancing sideways during a conversation
- A child checking if anyone saw them take a snack
- A shy animal peeking from behind something
Example in Daily Life
Example: Sneaky glance
He looked away —
but then chira! —
his eyes darted back toward her.
Cultural Note
In English, you might say:
- “A quick glance”
- “To peek”
- “Side-eye”
But in Japanese, “Chira!” captures not only the motion, but the emotional tone —
it can feel shy, sneaky, playful, or even suspicious, depending on the context.
Watch & Feel the “Chira!” World
Feel the “Chira!” — A Quick Glance
Try Using It!
Next time you…
- Glance at your phone in a meeting
- Peek at someone from across the café
- Catch someone watching you secretly…
Say it softly:
Chira!
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