Dotabata and Atafuta (「どたばた」と「あたふた」 - Hustle and Bustle)

Dotabata and Atafuta

Today I was in a state described with 'dotabata' (どたばた) and 'atafura' (あたふた).

'Dotabata' is an onomatopoeia representing the state of someone running around in a flurry or making a noisy commotion.

This term is a combination of two onomatopoeia, 'dota dota' (どたどた) and 'bata bata' (ばたばた), both of which mean the sound of footsteps or a hectic state.

'Atafuta' is not an onomatopoeia, but an abbreviation of 'awate futameku' (慌てふためく).

Since 'awate' (慌て) means "to fluster" and 'futameku' (ふためく) means "to make a noisy commotion," the meaning is similar to 'dotabata'.

In my opinion, 'dotabata' sounds noisier than 'atafuta'.

「どたばた」と「あたふた」

今日の私は「どたばた」して、そして「あたふた」していました。

「どたばた」は、慌ただしく走り回ったり騒がしくあばれたりするさまを表す擬態語であり、足音や慌ただしいさまを意味する2つの擬態語「どたどた」と「ばたばた」が組み合わさってできた語です。

「あたふた」は擬態語ではなく、「慌てふためく」を省略してできた語です。

「慌て」は "to fluster"、「ふためく」は「音を立てて騒ぎ立てる」を意味するため、意味は「どたばた」と似たものになります。

個人的には、「どたばた」のほうが実際に音が出ていて騒がしい感じがします。

• Today I was in a state described with 'dotabata' (どたばた) and 'atafura' (あたふた).
• Today I was in a state described as 'dotabata' (どたばた) and 'atafura' (あたふた).

  > Today I was in a state that could be described as 'dotabata' and 'atafuta'.

• This term is a combination of two onomatopoeia, 'dota dota' (どたどた) and 'bata bata' (ばたばた), both of which mean the sound of footsteps or a hectic state.
• This term is a combination of two onomatopoeias, 'dota dota' (どたどた) and 'bata bata' (ばたばた), both of which mean the sound of footsteps or a hectic state.

I hadn't heard of these two expressions, but they remind me of "すたこら". : )