Yukaこっそり is one of those expressive Japanese adverbs that perfectly captures doing something sneakily. Let’s learn it!
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こっそり | kossori | secretly / stealthily / on the sly |
| こっそりと | kossori to | same meaning (slightly more formal with と) |
What Does こっそり Mean?
こっそり is an adverb describing doing something quietly, secretly, or without others noticing. It often has a playful or sneaky connotation:
- こっそりお菓子を食べた。 — I secretly ate the snacks.
- 彼女はこっそり部屋を出た。 — She quietly snuck out of the room.
- こっそり練習していたんだ。 — I was secretly practicing.
Usage Notes
こっそり is used before a verb, like most Japanese adverbs:
- こっそり + verb: こっそり見る (peek secretly), こっそり渡す (secretly pass something)
It can also describe something done for a positive reason — like secretly practicing a surprise:
- 誕生日プレゼントをこっそり準備した。 — I secretly prepared a birthday present.
ReiIs こっそり always negative — like hiding something bad?
YukaNot at all! It’s neutral — secretly practicing, secretly planning a surprise, quietly leaving without disturbing others. Context determines if it’s good or bad.
Related Vocabulary
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こっそり | kossori | secretly / stealthily |
| ひそかに | hisoka ni | secretly / quietly (more literary) |
| 内緒で | naisho de | in secret / without telling |
| こっそり話す | kossori hanasu | to whisper / talk in secret |
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank: “He secretly left the party early.”
Answer: 彼はパーティーをこっそり抜け出した。
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