じっと en 30 secondes
- Jitto means staying perfectly still, often with focus or patience, like a statue or someone staring intently.
- It is commonly used as a command ('Jitto shite!') to tell children or pets not to move during tasks.
- Beyond physical stillness, it describes 'silent endurance'—holding back pain, anger, or tears without making a sound.
- Do not confuse it with 'zutto' (always/long time) or 'sotto' (gently/quietly); jitto is specifically about lack of motion.
The Japanese adverb じっと (jitto) is a quintessential onomatopoeic-mimetic word (gitaigo) that describes a state of complete stillness, intense focus, or silent endurance. At its core, it signifies the absence of movement, whether physical or metaphorical. When someone is jitto, they are not just 'still' in a casual sense; there is often an underlying layer of concentration, patience, or emotional suppression. It is the visual and atmospheric representation of a person or object remaining fixed in one position despite external pressures or internal urges to move.
- Physical Stillness
- Remaining motionless, like a statue or a cat stalking prey.
- Visual Focus
- Staring intently at something without breaking eye contact.
- Mental Endurance
- Suppressing an emotion or pain, 'gritting one's teeth' silently.
「写真を撮るから、じっとしていてね。」 (Stay still because I'm taking a photo.)
In the context of CEFR A2, learners encounter this word primarily as a command for children or pets to stay still, or to describe someone staring. However, as one progresses, the nuance shifts toward the 'unmoving heart'—the ability to wait for a long time without complaining or to endure a difficult situation without making a sound. The word evokes a sense of weight and stability. Unlike 'sotto' (softly), which focuses on the volume of an action, jitto focuses on the continuity of a state.
「彼は私の目をじっと見つめた。」 (He stared fixedly into my eyes.)
- Wait Patiently
- Waiting for a bus that is late without pacing around.
- Endure Pain
- Sitting through a painful medical procedure without flinching.
「痛みをじっとこらえた。」 (I silently endured the pain.)
「虫が葉の上でじっとしている。」 (An insect is sitting perfectly still on a leaf.)
「考え事をしながら、じっと手を見た。」 (While lost in thought, I stared motionlessly at my hands.)
Using じっと effectively requires understanding its common verb pairings. Since it is an adverb, it modifies the action that follows it, emphasizing that the action is performed without any distracting movement or interruption. The most common structure is [Adverb] + [Verb].
1. With Verbs of Seeing (見る, 見つめる)
When paired with 'miru' (to see) or 'mitsumeru' (to gaze/stare), it indicates a deep, unblinking focus. This can be romantic, confrontational, or simply observant. For example, 'jitto miru' is often translated as 'to stare' or 'to look fixedly.' It suggests that the observer is trying to find something out or is captivated by the object.
2. With Verbs of State (する, している)
'Jitto suru' is the most basic form, meaning 'to stay still.' It is frequently used in the imperative form 'Jitto shite!' (Stay still!) when talking to children, patients, or people posing for a photo. It implies that the person should not fidget or move their limbs.
3. With Verbs of Waiting and Enduring (待つ, 耐える, こらえる)
This is a more advanced usage. 'Jitto matsu' means to wait patiently without moving or complaining. 'Jitto taeru' or 'jitto koraeru' means to endure pain, sadness, or a difficult situation silently. Here, the 'stillness' is as much mental as it is physical. It represents the Japanese virtue of 'gaman' (perseverance).
Grammar Note:
While 'jitto' is an adverb, it is sometimes followed by the particle 'to' (じっとと), though in modern conversational Japanese, the 'to' is almost always omitted. In formal writing, you might see 'jitto-to shite iru'.
Consider the difference between 'jitto' and 'zutto'. 'Zutto' means 'all the time' or 'by far,' while 'jitto' is about 'motionlessness.' Beginners often confuse these because they sound similar, but their meanings are entirely distinct. If you are waiting for someone for a long time, you are 'zutto matte iru.' If you are waiting without moving an inch, you are 'jitto matte iru.'
You will encounter じっと in a variety of daily life scenarios, ranging from casual family interactions to formal medical settings and literary descriptions.
- At the Doctor's or Dentist's: Medical professionals frequently use this word. When a nurse is about to give an injection, they will say, 「ちょっとチクッとしますよ。じっとしていてくださいね」 (It'll be a little prick. Please stay still). It is a request for the patient to suppress their natural reflex to flinch.
- Parenting and Schools: Parents often tell their children 「じっとしなさい！」 (Be still!) when they are fidgeting in a restaurant, a quiet library, or during a ceremony. Teachers use it to command attention during morning assemblies.
- Photography: Whether it's a professional studio or a friend taking a smartphone snap, 「はい、じっとして！」 (Okay, stay still!) is the standard phrase to prevent motion blur.
- Nature Documentaries: Narrators use it to describe predators. 「ライオンは獲物をじっと狙っています」 (The lion is fixedly aiming at its prey). It heightens the tension of the scene.
- Anime and Manga: Characters often 'jitto' look at each other during emotional climaxes. It signifies a moment where words are unnecessary, and the intensity of the gaze conveys everything. A character might also be described as 「じっと耐える」 when they are hiding their true feelings or pain from their comrades.
In literature, jitto is used to describe the atmosphere of a room or the passage of time. A room might be 'jitto' quiet, or a character might spend hours 'jitto' thinking. It creates a sense of profound silence and internal focus that is very common in Japanese aesthetic descriptions.
Even though じっと is a common word, learners often trip up on its nuances or confuse it with similar-sounding adverbs. Here are the most frequent pitfalls:
1. Confusing 'Jitto' with 'Zutto'
This is the #1 mistake for beginners.
❌ 「昨日、じっと勉強しました。」 (Incorrect if you mean 'I studied for a long time')
✅ 「昨日、ずっと勉強しました。」 (I studied all the time.)
Remember: Zutto = Time/Duration/Comparison. Jitto = Physical/Mental Stillness. You can 'jitto' wait for 'zutto' (wait motionlessly for a long time), but they are not interchangeable.
2. Confusing 'Jitto' with 'Sotto'
'Sotto' means 'quietly' or 'gently' (like placing a glass on a table without making a sound). While 'jitto' involves being quiet, its focus is on not moving. 'Sotto' involves moving carefully.
❌ 「ドアをじっと閉めた。」 (I closed the door motionlessly - doesn't make sense.)
✅ 「ドアをそっと閉めた。」 (I closed the door gently/quietly.)
3. Overusing it for 'Wait'
While 'jitto matsu' is correct, if you just want to tell someone to 'wait a moment,' use 'chotto matte.' 'Jitto matte' sounds like you are telling them to stand like a statue while they wait, which can sound overly commanding or strange in casual conversation.
4. Misunderstanding the 'Endurance' Aspect
Learners sometimes think 'jitto' only applies to physical objects. However, using it for 'jitto koraeru' (enduring pain) is very common. If you only use it for 'staying still,' you miss out on the rich emotional depth the word carries in Japanese culture regarding silent strength.
To truly master じっと, you must distinguish it from other 'stillness' or 'staring' adverbs in Japanese. Here is a comparison:
- じろじろ (Jiro-jiro)
- This also means 'staring,' but it has a negative, rude connotation. It implies looking someone up and down or staring in a way that makes them uncomfortable. Jitto is neutral or focused; jiro-jiro is intrusive.
- ぼーっと (Bō-tto)
- This means 'absent-mindedly' or 'spacing out.' While you are 'still' when you are 'bō-tto,' your mind is blank. When you are 'jitto,' your mind is usually focused or you are intentionally suppressing movement.
- ぴたっと (Pita-tto)
- This describes a sudden stop or something fitting perfectly. While 'jitto' is a continuous state of stillness, 'pita-tto' is the moment the movement ceases. 「泣き声がぴたっと止まった」 (The crying stopped suddenly/completely).
- しんとして (Shin-to-shite)
- This describes a place being 'dead quiet' or 'silent.' 'Jitto' describes a person or thing, whereas 'shin-to-shite' describes the atmosphere of a space.
- つくづく (Tsukuzuku)
- This is used for deep reflection or looking at something carefully with a sense of realization. 「鏡をじっと見る」 (Looking at the mirror without moving) vs 「鏡をつくづく見る」 (Looking at the mirror and reflecting deeply on one's appearance).
In summary, use じっと when the focus is on the physical lack of movement or the intensity of a fixed state. It is the 'anchor' of Japanese adverbs, representing stability and unwavering presence.
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Adverbial placement
~te iru (continuous state)
~te kudasai (requests)
Gitaigo (Mimetic words) patterns
Particle 'to' with adverbs
Exemples par niveau
じっとしてください。
Please stay still.
Jitto + shite (te-form of suru) + kudasai.
猫がじっとしている。
The cat is staying still.
Jitto + shite iru (continuous state).
じっとして！
Stay still!
Casual command form.
ここでじっと待ってね。
Wait here quietly/stillly, okay?
Jitto + matte (te-form of matsu).
じっと手を見る。
I look at my hand motionlessly.
Simple adverbial use.
彼はじっと座っている。
He is sitting still.
Jitto + suwatte iru.
写真を撮るよ。じっとして。
I'm taking a photo. Stay still.
Contextual use for photography.
犬はじっとしていた。
The dog was staying still.
Past tense of state.
彼女は私の顔をじっと見た。
She stared at my face.
Jitto + mita (past tense of miru).
テスト中、じっとしていなさい。
Stay still during the test.
Jitto + shite inasai (formal command).
じっと考えてみてください。
Please try to think about it deeply/stillly.
Jitto + kangaete (thinking without distraction).
虫がじっと止まっている。
The insect is staying perfectly still.
Jitto + tomatte iru (stopped/still).
痛いのをじっと我慢した。
I endured the pain silently.
Jitto + gaman shita (endured).
彼はじっと海を見つめていた。
He was gazing fixedly at the sea.
Jitto + mitsumete ita (gazing).
じっと話を聞いてください。
Please listen to the story attentively (without moving).
Jitto + kiite (focused listening).
バスが来るまでじっと待った。
I waited stillly until the bus came.
Jitto + matta (waited patiently).
彼は怒りをじっとこらえた。
He silently suppressed his anger.
Jitto + koraeta (suppressed/endured).
暗闇の中でじっと耳を澄ました。
I listened intently in the darkness.
Jitto + mimi o sumashita (strained ears).
彼女はじっと自分の番を待っている。
She is waiting patiently for her turn.
Emphasizes patience.
その子は母親の帰りをじっと待っていた。
The child was waiting motionlessly for their mother's return.
Suggests a long, focused wait.
じっと動かずにチャンスをうかがう。
Wait for an opportunity without moving an inch.
Jitto + ugokazu-ni (without moving).
彼はじっと私の説明に聞き入っていた。
He was listening to my explanation with rapt attention.
Jitto + kiki-itta (absorbed in listening).
冬の間、植物はじっと春を待つ。
During winter, plants silently wait for spring.
Personification of plants.
悲しみをじっと胸に秘める。
To keep sadness silently hidden in one's heart.
Metaphorical stillness.
不公平な扱いにも、彼はじっと耐え忍んだ。
He endured the unfair treatment with silent perseverance.
Jitto + tae-shinonda (persevered).
顕微鏡をじっとのぞき込む。
To peer fixedly into a microscope.
Jitto + nozokikomu (peer into).
その場の空気をじっと読み取ろうとした。
I tried to silently read the atmosphere of the place.
Jitto + yomitoru (read/interpret).
彼はじっと動かず、彫像のようだった。
He didn't move at all, like a statue.
Simile with jitto.
運命をじっと受け入れる覚悟だ。
I am prepared to silently accept my fate.
Jitto + ukeireru (accept).
彼女は鏡の中の自分をじっと見つめ直した。
She stared at herself in the mirror, re-evaluating.
Self-reflection.
嵐が過ぎ去るのをじっと待つしかない。
There is nothing to do but wait silently for the storm to pass.
Jitto + matsu shika nai.
その老人はじっと過去の思い出に浸っていた。
The old man was silently immersed in memories of the past.
Jitto + hitatte ita (immersed).
静寂の中に、じっと身を置く。
To place oneself silently within the stillness.
Literary expression.
彼は相手の出方をじっとうかがっている。
He is silently watching for his opponent's next move.
Strategic stillness.
真実をじっと見極める目が必要だ。
An eye that can fixedly discern the truth is necessary.
Metaphorical seeing.
都会の喧騒の中で、彼はじっと孤独を味わっていた。
Amidst the city's hustle, he was silently savoring his loneliness.
Contrast between noise and 'jitto'.
その言葉の重みをじっと噛み締めた。
I silently reflected on the weight of those words.
Jitto + kamishimeta (digested/reflected).
彼はじっと一点を見つめたまま動かなかった。
He remained motionless, staring at a single point.
Focus on a single point.
時代の流れをじっと見守る。
To silently watch over the flow of the times.
Jitto + mimamoru (watch over).
心の奥底にある不安をじっと見つめる。
To stare fixedly at the anxiety deep within one's heart.
Psychological introspection.
万象の流転をじっと観照する。
To silently contemplate the flux of all things.
Highly formal/philosophical.
彼は死の恐怖をじっと凝視していた。
He was staring fixedly at the terror of death.
Jitto + gyōshi (staring/gazing).
その静謐な空間に、じっと魂を沈める。
To silently submerge one's soul into that tranquil space.
Poetic/Metaphorical.
歴史の審判をじっと待つ身となった。
He found himself in a position of silently awaiting the judgment of history.
Formal/Political context.
彼女は自らの運命の糸をじっと見つめているかのようだった。
It was as if she were fixedly staring at the threads of her own fate.
Simile with fate.
言葉にならない感情を、じっと抱きしめる。
To silently embrace emotions that cannot be put into words.
Abstract emotional use.
宇宙の深淵をじっと覗き込むような感覚。
A sensation like fixedly peering into the abyss of the universe.
Grand scale metaphor.
彼はじっと、己の限界と対峙していた。
He was silently confronting his own limits.
Jitto + taiji (confrontation).
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Means 'all the time' or 'far more.' Jitto is 'motionless.'
Means 'gently' or 'secretly.' Jitto is 'still.'
Means 'surely.' Jitto is 'still.'
Expressions idiomatiques
— To hold one's breath and stay perfectly still (usually out of fear or to avoid detection).
— To silently wait for the perfect opportunity to strike or act.
— A famous literary reference (Ishikawa Takuboku) implying deep, sorrowful self-reflection.
— To hide oneself and stay perfectly still.
— A phrase (from an old CM) referring to a child who endures things patiently.
— To be as motionless as a mountain (inspired by Fūrinkazan).
— To strain one's eyes and look fixedly to see something clearly.
— To listen with total focus and stillness.
— To be lost in deep, motionless thought.
— To silently wait out a difficult situation (metaphorical storm).
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Implies a concentration of energy in one spot.
Very high in daily conversation and literature.
- Using jitto for 'always'.
- Using jitto for 'slowly'.
- Using jitto for 'gently'.
- Using jitto to describe a quiet atmosphere.
- Overusing the 'to' particle (jitto-to).
Astuces
Photo Tip
When taking a group photo, say 'Jitto shite!' to make sure nobody blurs the shot.
Association
Associate 'Jitto' with a statue. Statues are the definition of 'jitto'.
Focus
Use 'jitto miru' when you are looking for a lost contact lens or a tiny detail.
Endurance
Remember that 'jitto' is a virtue in Japan. Silence and stillness are respected.
Particle
You don't need 'ni' after 'jitto'. It's just 'jitto [verb]'.
Emphasis
If you want to emphasize how still someone was, you can say 'jiiiii-tto'.
Context
If you hear 'jitto' at a hospital, prepare to hold your position.
Storytelling
Use 'jitto' to describe a character who is hiding or spying.
Politeness
Don't tell your boss 'jitto shite' unless you are their doctor or photographer!
Zutto vs Jitto
Always double-check if you mean 'duration' (zutto) or 'stillness' (jitto).
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Onomatopoeic origin. It likely derives from the sound/feeling of something being fixed or 'stuck' (ji-).
Contexte culturel
Used frequently by teachers to manage classroom behavior.
Staring (jitto miru) at strangers is considered rude in Japan, even if the word itself is neutral.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"写真を撮るから、ちょっとじっとしててくれる？"
"あの猫、さっきからじっとこっちを見てるね。"
"行列で一時間もじっと待つのは大変だよね。"
"痛いときは、じっと我慢するタイプ？それとも声に出す？"
"考え事をするときは、じっと一点を見つめちゃうよね。"
Sujets d'écriture
今日、何分間じっとしていましたか？
最近、じっと我慢したことはありますか？
じっと見つめてしまうほど美しいものは何ですか？
あなたが「じっと待つ」のが一番苦手な場所はどこですか？
静かな場所でじっとしていると、どんな気持ちになりますか？
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, 'jitto' describes people or things that aren't moving. For a quiet room, use 'shizuka' or 'shin to shite iru'.
Not always. It can mean looking with interest or focus. However, staring at people in public is generally avoided.
'Shizuka ni' means quietly (low volume). 'Jitto' means motionlessly. You can be 'jitto' but making noise (like breathing hard).
It's unusual. You would say 'zutto' (for a long time) or 'shuchu shite' (concentrating). 'Jitto' implies you aren't moving your body at all.
Almost never. It is standard to write it in Hiragana.
Yes, like a car stopped at a light or a rock. 'Ishi ga jitto shite iru' is possible in a poetic sense.
No, it is a command. To be polite, say 'jitto shite ite kudasai'.
Yes, when paired with 'matsu' (wait) or 'taeru' (endure).
Briefly pause your breath before the 'to' sound (a glottal stop).
Yes, it is one of the most common adverbs in Japanese.
Teste-toi 98 questions
/ 98 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Jitto is the Japanese adverb for 'absolute stillness.' Whether you are staring at a bug, waiting for a bus, or enduring a shot at the doctor, it captures the essence of being motionlessly locked into a state.
- Jitto means staying perfectly still, often with focus or patience, like a statue or someone staring intently.
- It is commonly used as a command ('Jitto shite!') to tell children or pets not to move during tasks.
- Beyond physical stillness, it describes 'silent endurance'—holding back pain, anger, or tears without making a sound.
- Do not confuse it with 'zutto' (always/long time) or 'sotto' (gently/quietly); jitto is specifically about lack of motion.
Photo Tip
When taking a group photo, say 'Jitto shite!' to make sure nobody blurs the shot.
Association
Associate 'Jitto' with a statue. Statues are the definition of 'jitto'.
Focus
Use 'jitto miru' when you are looking for a lost contact lens or a tiny detail.
Endurance
Remember that 'jitto' is a virtue in Japan. Silence and stillness are respected.
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Grammaire lie
Expressions liées
Plus de mots sur animals
鳴き声
A2Le cri d'un animal ou le chant d'un oiseau. 'Le cri du chat est très aigu.'
あり
A2Une fourmi ; un petit insecte social connu pour son travail acharné.
襲う
A2Attaquer quelqu'un ou quelque chose soudainement.
吠える
A2Aboyer (chien) ou rugir (lion). 'Le chien aboie après le facteur.'
くま
A2Ours; un grand mammifère lourd avec une fourrure épaisse. 'J'ai vu un ours dans la forêt.' (Forêt de montagne).
噛む
A2Mordre ou mâcher quelque chose avec les dents.
ちょう
A2Un papillon est un insecte aux grandes ailes colorées. En japonais, on l'appelle 'chō'.
追う
A2Poursuivre quelqu'un ou quelque chose pour l'attraper.
ちゅんちゅん
A2Le gazouillis d'un moineau. On l'entend souvent le matin au Japon.
コケコッコー
A2Cock-a-doodle-doo; the sound a rooster makes.
