もやもや

も

や

も

や

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

hazy; misty; foggy; murky; fuzzy

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes physical haziness, such as fog, smoke, or unclear outlines. Often used adverbially with と or as a する verb.

朝あさ霧ぎりで景色けしきがもやもやしている。
The scenery is hazy because of the morning mist.

煙けむりが部屋へやにもやもやと立たちこめた。

Smoke hung hazily in the room.

noun, adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

vague unease; pent-up feelings; gloomy; uncertain feeling

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Refers to a mental or emotional state of unclear, unsettled, or gloomy feelings. Often used for lingering worries, dissatisfaction, or frustration that is hard to articulate.

彼かれの態たい度どに、もやもやした気き持もちが残のこった。
His attitude left me with a vague feeling of unease.
言いいたいことが言いえなくて、胸むねがもやもやする。
I can't say what I want to say, and I feel pent up inside.

Written forms

もやもやUsage68%
Standard hiragana spelling for this mimetic word.
モヤモヤUsage32%
Katakana spelling often used for emphasis or in informal writing.

Similar words

すっきり
もやもや describes a hazy or unsettled state, while すっきり means clear, refreshed, or uncluttered, often used as its antonym for mental or physical clarity.
ぼんやり
Both can mean 'hazy' or 'vague', but ぼんやり emphasizes dimness, absent-mindedness, or lack of focus, whereas もやもや suggests a murky, unsettled, or emotionally cloudy state.

Etymology

A mimetic word (擬態語) derived from the reduplication of the sound-symbolic root もや, which evokes haziness or murkiness. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is conventionally associated with unclear or unsettled states.