In an informal conversation with a new friend, I was discussing 擬態語. She
offered the word もやもや as an example, meaning "to be horny (i.e.., desiring
sex)." After clarifying the meaning, I left it at that. When I looked it up I
see this definition:

> もやもや moyamoya · モヤモヤ
>
> adverb / noun or participle with aux. verb する → conjugation: hazy; murky;
> misty; foggy; fuzzy; —Onomatopoeia.
>
> 「あっぱれ！」天使はそういうと、稲妻が走るもやもやの煙の中へ消えていった。 "Done!" says the angel, and disappears
> in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning.
>
> adverb / noun / noun or participle with aux. verb する → conjugation: gloomy;
> feeling depressed; feeling sad; —Onomatopoeia.

In any case, it is apparent that Tangorin.com is making a mistake in calling
this word onomatopoeia, as it is a mimetic word instead (apparently a
Phenomime.)

Is it also a psychomime expressing the state of horniness or did I hear wrong?
If I heard wrong does such a psychomime exist?

I would ask this friend directly, but I have a girlfriend and am wary of
initating what could be a flirtatious conversation.

*Edit: Kotobank has this definition so I think I heard right:

> 色情がむらむらと起こるさま。「数々の通はせ文、清十郎も―となりて」〈浮・五人女・一〉

Is this expression common and easily understandable? Is the meaning different
than むらむら?
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slang
Does the 擬態語 word もやもや have a slang meaning of "horny?"
モヤモヤ is associated with a moist vagina "ready to receive" so to speak.
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2014-12-02T07:25:39.450
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Based on my experience, it seems that "もやもや" meaning "horny" isn't common
nowadays.  
Yes, as you say, I found out that "もやもや" _does_ have meaning of "being horny,"
but note that the example came with the definition
(「数々の通はせ文、清十郎も―となりて」〈浮・五人女・一〉) is written over 300 yrs ago.

Instead, I often hear "むらむら" to depict it.  
(According to [this page](http://zokugo-dict.com/33mu/muramura.htm), using
"むらむら" to depict "being horny" is new.)

We do use "もやもや" to depict:

  * mist/smoke **hanging over**
  * thing/situation **being unclear**
  * **being unhappy/depressed**
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新明解国語辞典 published by Sanseido defines “もやもや” as:

  1. 靄が立ち込めているようで実態がはっきりわからない様子。(例）もやもやした空気 - the state of the substance is unclear as wondering in the thick fog. e.g. hazy (depressed) atmosphere.

  2. 解決したり明らかになったりしないため不安や不満がなくならない様子 （例）党内にもやもやが残る – the state of anxiety and frustration hanging on because of the problem remaining unsolved or not identified. e.g. a strong frustration smolders among the party members.

and むらむら as;

何かを見たり、聞いたことがきっかけとなって起こる、よくない衝動を抑えきれないことを表す。（例）怒りがむらむらとこみあげてくる – describes the
status where one is unable to control undesirable emotion triggered by looking
at or hearing something. e.g. have a sudden impulse of anger.

Both もやもや and むらむら are common adjective (e.g.もやもやとした感情 – pent-up feeling) and
adverb (むらむらと沸き起こる欲情 – simmeringly hot desire). But もやもや relates to
uncertainty and vagueness of the state, while むらむら relates to the eruption of
uncontrorable passion and impulse. They sounds alike as a reduplication, but
are very different in the meaning.
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