PEKKO-RI ぺっこり
Meanings
Describes lowering the head in a small, neat bow.
Examples
My niece, whom I was meeting for the first time, hid behind her mother’s leg and gave me a shy little bow.
はじめて会う姪が、母親の脚の後ろに隠れながらぺっこりとお辞儀をしてくれた。
Dogmatic Opinion
PEKKO-RI feels especially cute when used for a small child bowing.
This is not the bow of apology, guilt, or grave responsibility. I picture a simple, innocent little dip of the head.
Comedian Zun Iio also has a bowing gag called “PEKKO-RI 45 degrees.”
The charm of the word lies in the smallness and lightness of the gesture.
Proximate Expression
a quick bow
Related Words
For Japanese Learners
Bow, give a little bow, dip one’s head, and bow politely may fit. On this page, PEKKO-RI means the bowing motion; do not import a separate “dented” meaning that is not present in the Japanese source.
