{"id":2930,"date":"2025-11-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=2930"},"modified":"2026-02-13T21:50:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:50:24","slug":"what-is-meso-meso-the-japanese-sound-of-whimpering-or-tearful-sniffling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=2930","title":{"rendered":"What Is \u201cMeso Meso\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Whimpering or Tearful Sniffling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ever seen a child sulking in a corner, softly crying but unable to stop?<br><br>Or felt that kind of fragile sadness that makes you sniffle and pout at the same time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s when the Japanese onomatopoeia <strong>\u201cMeso Meso\u201d (\u3081\u305d\u3081\u305d)<\/strong> comes in \u2014 a sound and feel of weak, helpless sobbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we dive in, hear what it sounds like!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3081\u305d\u3081\u305d.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is \u201cMeso Meso\u201d (\u3081\u305d\u3081\u305d)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cMeso Meso\u201d<\/strong> describes the sound or act of crying softly and continuously \u2014 often with a sense of immaturity or self-pity.<br>It\u2019s not the quiet endurance of <em>shiku shiku<\/em>, but the tearful whining of someone who can\u2019t hold it in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s used for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Light, lingering sadness expressed outwardly<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A child crying or sulking<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Someone who\u2019s hurt or disappointed, sniffling<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pronunciation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>meh-so meh-so<br>(Say it gently, with a quivering tone, like someone trying to stop tears but failing.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Emotion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does \u201cMeso Meso\u201d Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It looks like a child wiping tears with the back of their hand.<br>Like a person pouting after being scolded.<br>Like tears welling up, again and again, even after they\u2019ve stopped.<\/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\/10\/meso_t.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2932\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do You Say It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Say it softly, trembling just a little:<br><strong>Meso\u2026 meso\u2026<\/strong><br>Like your voice is caught between sobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3081\u305d\u3081\u305d.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\">Example 1: After being scolded<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>He sat in the corner,<br>sniffling softly \u2014<br><strong>meso meso\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/meso_1.png\" alt=\"Meso Meso, meaning, Japanese sound words, onomatopoeia\" class=\"wp-image-2933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/meso_1.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/meso_1-300x262.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example 2: Feeling lonely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>She missed her friend,<br>and her voice quivered \u2014<br><strong>meso meso\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"224\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/meso_2.png\" alt=\"Meso Meso, meaning, Japanese sound words, onomatopoeia\" class=\"wp-image-2934\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/meso_2.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/meso_2-300x210.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Note<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In English, you might say:<br>\u201c<strong>Whimpering<\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<strong>sniffling<\/strong>,\u201d or \u201c<strong>whining tearfully<\/strong>.\u201d<br><br>But <strong>\u201cmeso meso\u201d<\/strong> captures not just the sound \u2014 it conveys <em>vulnerability and immaturity<\/em>.<br>It often paints a picture of someone weakly crying, not out of deep sorrow, but emotional sensitivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compared with <em>shiku shiku<\/em>, which feels quiet and inward,<br><strong>\u201cmeso meso\u201d<\/strong> is outward, fragile, and faintly childish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch &amp; Feel the \u201cMeso Meso\u201d World!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feel the Meso Meso \u2014 tears clinging to eyelashes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>He starts <strong>Meso Meso <\/strong>recalling something&#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=GttS70x3_QI\"\n     target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n     aria-label=\"Watch this video on YouTube\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/GttS70x3_QI\/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=GttS70x3_QI\"\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\">Try Using It!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re hurt but can\u2019t explain why\u2026<br>When you feel tears building up, just a little\u2026<br>When your heart wobbles like jelly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Say softly:<br><strong>Meso meso\u301c<\/strong><\/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\/07\/shiku_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=1176\">What Is \u201cShiku Shiku\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Quiet, Lingering Pain or Soft Crying<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__excerpt\">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 (&#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<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4929\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Emotion-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=37\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_emotion_enter__.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for emotion-based category\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\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\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever seen a child sulking in a corner, softly crying but unable to stop? Or felt that kind of fragile sadness that makes you sniffle and pout at the same time? That\u2019s when the Japanese onomatopoeia \u201cMeso Meso\u201d (\u3081\u305d\u3081\u305d) comes in \u2014 a sound and feel of weak, helpless sobbing. Before we dive in, hear [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-_emotion-based"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2930","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=2930"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2930\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6684,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2930\/revisions\/6684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}