An onomatopoeic word for a sharp grinding or gnashing sound/feeling, such as grinding teeth.
夜中に誰かが歯をキリキリと鳴らしていて目が覚めた。
Someone was grinding their teeth at night with a chirring sound and I woke up.
古い機械のギアがキリキリと音を立てている。
The gears of the old machine are making a grinding, kirikiri noise.
歯ぎしりで顎がキリキリ痛むことがある。
Sometimes my jaw hurts sharply from grinding my teeth.
An onomatopoeia for something pulled tight or tensioned strongly (e.g., a bowstring pulled taut).
職人は弓の弦をキリキリと張り、点検した。
The craftsman pulled the bowstring taut with a kirikiri sound and checked it.
テントのロープをキリキリに張らないと、風でばたついてしまう。
If you don't pull the tent ropes tight as kirikiri, they will flap in the wind.
シャツの襟をキリキリに整えて出掛けた。
I straightened my shirt collar very tightly before going out.
An onomatopoeia for rapid rotation or a fast whirring motion, used for quickly spinning axes or parts.
古い扇風機の羽がキリキリと速く回っている。
The blades of the old fan are spinning quickly with a kirikiri sound.
ボルトを外すと、内部の小さな歯車がキリキリ回転していたことがわかった。
When the bolt was removed, it turned out the small internal gears were spinning rapidly (kirikiri).
An onomatopoeia for a sharp, stabbing pain — commonly used for stomach or abdominal pain (e.g., 'my stomach is kirikiri').
朝から胃がキリキリして、食欲がない。
My stomach has been hurting sharply since morning, I have no appetite.
冷たい風に当たって傷口がキリキリ痛む。
The wound stings sharply when exposed to the cold wind.
試験の結果が気になって胸がキリキリするような不安が続いた。
Worry about the exam results left a sharp, anxious feeling in my chest.
An onomatopoeia meaning briskly, energetically, or promptly — as in working quickly or moving with urgency.
締め切り前で皆がキリキリ働き、残りの仕事を片づけた。
With the deadline looming everyone worked briskly and finished the remaining tasks.
彼女はキリキリ動いて、短時間で部屋を片付けた。
She moved quickly and tidied the room in no time.
店長はキリキリ指示を出して、業務をテキパキ進めた。
The manager gave brisk directions and moved operations along efficiently.