{"id":1176,"date":"2025-08-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=1176"},"modified":"2026-01-27T20:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T11:00:12","slug":"what-is-shiku-shiku-the-japanese-sound-of-quiet-lingering-pain-or-soft-crying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=1176","title":{"rendered":"What Is \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Quiet, Lingering Pain or Soft Crying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ever felt a dull stomachache that just won\u2019t go away?<br>Or cried alone, quietly, with tears slowly falling?<br><br>That\u2019s when the Japanese onomatopoeia \u201c<strong>Shiku Shiku<\/strong>\u201d (\u3057\u304f\u3057\u304f) comes in \u2014 a sound of soft, subdued, and lingering pain or sadness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start by listening to the sound itself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3057\u304f\u3057\u304f.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d<strong> (\u3057\u304f\u3057\u304f)<\/strong> ?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cShiku Shiku\u201d <\/strong>is a Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses <strong>quiet, continuous pain<\/strong> \u2014 either <strong>physical<\/strong> or <strong>emotional<\/strong>.<br>It\u2019s not sharp or loud.<br><br>It\u2019s the kind that slowly wears on you \u2014 like a stomachache, a toothache, or a broken heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also commonly used to describe <strong>gentle sobbing<\/strong> \u2014 the kind of crying where you don\u2019t wail, but tears fall and your chest aches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>shee-koo shee-koo<\/strong><br>(Say it softly, like a whisper\u2026 long and slow \u2014 just like the feeling)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Condition \/ Sound<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-postLink\">\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard -internal\" data-type=\"type1\" data-onclick=\"clickLink\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__caption\">\u3042\u308f\u305b\u3066\u8aad\u307f\u305f\u3044<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__thumb c-postThumb\"><figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/uru_main-300x199.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"p-blogCard__title\" href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=1249\">What Is \u201cUru Uru\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Teary-Eyed Emotion<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__excerpt\">Ever had that moment when your eyes well up \u2014 but tears don\u2019t quite fall?Or when you\u2019re deeply moved by something\u2026 and your vision blurs with emotion?That\u2019s &#8230;<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Does \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d Look Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It looks like a child clutching a stuffed toy, eyes wet with tears.<br>Like someone curled on the couch with a blanket, holding their stomach.<br>Like a gray sky with soft, falling rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"265\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_t.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1184\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Do You Say It?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whisper it gently, almost like a sigh:<br><strong>Shiku\u2026 shiku\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It echoes the kind of sadness or discomfort that sits silently with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3057\u304f\u3057\u304f.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Examples in Daily Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Example 1: Crying softly at night<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>She pulled the blanket over her head,<br>hoping no one would hear her tears \u2014<br>shiku shiku\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"293\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_1.png\" alt=\"Shiku Shiku, Japanese sound words, onomatopoeia\" class=\"wp-image-1178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_1.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_1-300x275.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Example 2: A stomachache that won\u2019t go away<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>He sat holding his belly,<br>the pain dull but constant \u2014<br>shiku shiku\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_2.png\" alt=\"Shiku Shiku, Japanese sound words, onomatopoeia\" class=\"wp-image-1179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_2.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shiku_2-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cultural Note<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In English, we might say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cShe sobbed quietly.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cHe had a dull ache.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cIt was a lingering pain.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But in Japanese, \u201cshiku shiku\u201d paints a more sensory image \u2014 it <strong>feels<\/strong> like the sound of quiet pain or tears.<br>You\u2019ll see it often in <strong>manga, anime<\/strong>, or <strong>everyday conversation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Watch &amp; Feel the \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d World!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>He cannot explain why, but he is in the mood of &#8220;<strong>Shiku Shiku<\/strong>&#8220;&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:60%; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=t8rFC-859CI\"\n     target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n     aria-label=\"Watch this video on YouTube\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/t8rFC-859CI\/hqdefault.jpg\"\n         alt=\"Watch on YouTube\"\n         style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:10px;\">\n    <div style=\"position:absolute; top:50%; left:50%; transform:translate(-50%,-50%);\n                font-size:32px; color:white; background:rgba(0,0,0,0.6);\n                padding:8px 12px; border-radius:50%;\">\n      \u25b6\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n\n  <div style=\"margin-top:8px; font-weight:600;\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=t8rFC-859CI\"\n       target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n       style=\"color:#78e2c8; text-decoration:none;\">\n      \u25b6 Watch on YouTube\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Try Using It!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When your stomach hurts just a little\u2026<br>When you&#8217;re quietly crying but don\u2019t want anyone to know\u2026<br>When something small but real is bothering you\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just whisper to yourself:<br><strong>Shiku shiku\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4919\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-fullWide pc-py-60 sp-py-40 alignfull\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7\"><div class=\"swell-block-fullWide__inner l-article\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Sound-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=35\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_sound_enter___.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for sound-based category\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4936\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Condition-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=39\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_condiion_enter.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for condition-based category\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-button is-style-btn_normal\"><a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\" class=\"swell-block-button__link\"><span>Home<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever felt a dull stomachache that just won\u2019t go away?Or cried alone, quietly, with tears slowly falling? That\u2019s when the Japanese onomatopoeia \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d (\u3057\u304f\u3057\u304f) comes in \u2014 a sound of soft, subdued, and lingering pain or sadness. Let\u2019s start by listening to the sound itself! What is \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d (\u3057\u304f\u3057\u304f) ? \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-_condition-based","category-_sound-based"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1176"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6194,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1176\/revisions\/6194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}