Meaning and Usage
The adverb しきりに is used to express something happening frequently, repeatedly, or with eagerness. It often describes actions or events that occur many times or with strong intensity.
Common Contexts
- Repeated actions: calling, asking, apologizing.
- Strong emotions or eagerness: apologizing earnestly, urging.
- Continuous natural phenomena: rain, noise.
Collocations and Patterns
- しきりに電話をかける (to call repeatedly)
- しきりに謝る (to apologize eagerly)
- しきりに雨が降る (to rain continuously and heavily)
These collocations show how しきりに emphasizes frequency or intensity.
Register and Nuance
しきりに is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It conveys a sense of persistence or intensity without negative or positive judgment.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse しきりに with しばしば, which also means 'often.' However, しきりに often implies eagerness or intensity, while しばしば is more neutral and purely about frequency.