ずるずる (zuru zuru) Slurping Sound

zuru zuru slurping

【ずるずる・zuru zuru】slurping sound

ずるずる is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a slurping sound.

If you’ve been to a ramen shop in Japan, you may have questioned all the ずるずる slurping sounds. In Japan, making slurping sounds when eating noodles are considered normal. Some will say that you’re supposed to make slurping sounds and it is even considered the proper way.

So why all the slurping?

One theory is that slurping, rather than biting and chewing the noodles off, is a better way of savoring the aroma and texture of the noodles.

Another is that soba, udon, and ramen, the culture of eating noodles rose as street food for the common, a quick slurp to refuel energy.

That said, of course, slurping too loud and splattering soup all over are universally bad manners.

The Japanese verb for slurping (also sipping and sniffling) is すする (susuru) and ずるずる describes the sound made from slurping, sipping a hot drink or sniffling.



鼻水(はなみず)がずるずるで、ずっと(はな)をすすっていた。
(hanamizuga zuruzurude zutto hanawo susutteita)
I had a runny nose, so I was sniffling the whole time.

ずるずる is also when you drag something.

()きずる (hikizuru) = to drag

タオルをずるずるとひきずった。
(taoruwo zuruzuruto hikizutta)
He dragged the towel across the floor.

ずるずるとつづけても仕方(しかた)がない。
(zuruzuruto tsuzuketemo shikataganai)
There’s no point in dragging this on.



Learn the different types of ramen and toppings (and listen to a ずるずる sound) here.

Learn more Japanese onomatopoeias related to eating and drinking here.


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