74551
I have a question about Japanese onomatopoeia (擬態語). What is the difference
between サクサク and パリパリ? Are there situations where using one instead of the
other is incorrect? As I understand it, they both mean “crispy”.
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2020-02-22T04:31:58.540
74549
2020-02-23T02:56:20.313
14608
question
meaning word-choice usage onomatopoeia
What’s the difference between サクサク and パリパリ
Just a quick search on cookpad,

The 1st page of
[パリパリ](https://cookpad.com/search/%E3%83%91%E3%83%AA%E3%83%91%E3%83%AA) has
"Salad with bean sprouts, white radish, cabbage, lettuce", "Rice crackers",
"Pizza made of gyoza sheet", "Cheese crisps", etc.

I think the food texture is kind of [crispy and
hard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispiness). Its sound might be loud and
high. So it can be audible to others when you eat it.

The 1st page of menu of
[サクサク](https://cookpad.com/search/%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AF) has
"Tempura", "Scone", "Sardine Cheese Puffs", "Chocolate Banana Muffin", "Butter
cookies", etc.

I think the food texture is kind of [crunchy, soft and
mild](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunchiness). It does not sound so much
that other people might not hear when you eat it.
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2020-02-22T06:11:04.870
74551
2020-02-22T06:11:04.870
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answer
パリパリ expresses how a flat object would be bent and relatively easily break
while keeping rigidity with collapse of texture, if you did.

サクサク expresses how texture would be easily penetrated or cut with crispy
touch, and derivatively, how things go swiftly.
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2020-02-22T08:32:02.087
74554
2020-02-22T08:32:02.087
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answer
パリパリ focuses on crunchiness, dryness or hardness of a food that is typically
soft. It's used both positively and negatively. For example, deep-fried
spaghetti and overcooked French fries are described as パリパリ.

On the other hand, サクサク is always positive and focuses mainly on "brittleness"
of a food, like that of a biscuit. A food that is サクサク is moderately hard, but
is easily and quickly broken in the mouth. Outside food contexts, サクサク usually
refers to softness or smoothness (e.g., 仕事がサクサク終わった = I finished my job
smoothly.)
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2020-02-23T02:50:27.197
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2020-02-23T02:56:20.313
2020-02-23T02:56:20.313
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answer