むずむず

むずむず
feeling itchy; feeling restless; feeling annoyed


We'll start with this monstrous, intimidating dictionary entry:

(A) やる気にあふれ、落ち着かないさま。また、やりたいことができなくてもどかしく思うさま。
(B) 虫などが細かくうごめくさま。また、そのような感触があって落ち着かないさま。
(A) やるき に あふれ、 おちつかない さま。 また、 やりたい こと が できなくて もどかしく おもう さま。
(B) むし など が こまかく うごめく さま。 また、 そのような かんしょく が あって おちつかない さま。

(A) feeling restless because of an urge to do something; feeling annoyed at being unable to do something
(B) the small squirming movements of something small like an insect; feeling something like this and being uneasy

Literally: “(A) willingness/eagerness to do something + に + overflow (and), + don't calm down + state / condition. + also, + want to do + thing + が + cannot do (and) + irritated / frustrated + think + state / condition. + (B) insect + and the like + が + minutely + squirm / wriggle + state / condition. + also, + that kind of + feeling + が + have (and) + don't calm down + state / condition.”
Source: goo辞書


In short, むずむず is an "itchy," "restless," or "annoyed" feeling that one experiences. It can be a physical "itchiness," or it can be a figurative "itchiness" or "restlessness" that one experiences.

We have examples of both below.

 

鼻がむずむずする。花粉かなぁ。
はな が むずむず する。 かふん かなぁ。
My nose is itchy. Maybe it’s allergies.
Literally: “nose + が + feeling itchy + does. + hay fever + かなぁ.”

 

足がムズムズする。水虫かなぁ。
あし が ムズムズ する。 みずむし かなぁ。
My foot is itchy. I wonder if I have athlete’s foot.
Literally: “foot + が + feeling itchy + does. + athlete’s foot + かなぁ.”

 

脚がむずむずして眠れない。
あし が むずむず して ねむれない。
I can't sleep. I feel like I need to move my legs. 
Literally: “legs + が + feeling restless + do (and) + cannot sleep.”
Note: This is referring to "restless legs syndrome," a condition characterized by an urge to move one's leg(s). The speaker might just be talking/thinking this to herself.

 

会議中、なかなか発言できなくてむずむずした。
かいぎちゅう、 なかなか はつげん できなくて むずむず した。
I couldn’t get a chance to talk during the meeting. It was frustrating.
Literally: “during the meeting, + just (couldn’t) + remark / statement + cannot do (and) + feeling annoyed + did.”

 

I can't say that I hope you find chances to use むずむず in your own Japanese, as it's not a particularly pleasant feeling to experience.

In any case, we'd probably be wise to remember it.
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