ambiguity with すっと


[WWWJDIC](http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-
bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1MUE%E3%81%99%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A8) says すっと means "quickly / all
of a sudden" yet it can also mean "quietly / gently / softly"

So basically I was wondering how do we tell if すっと means "quickly / all of a
sudden" or "quietly / gently / softly"?

E.g. in this sentence: カタツムリがすっと角を出した。

Does it mean:

1) Gently, the snail shot out its horns.

2) All of a sudden, the snail shot out its horns.

3) both 1) and 2) ?




My dictionary defines すっと with these _four_ meanings:

  1. 真っすぐ，ほっそりと (straight or slender)
  2. 素早く (quickly)
  3. 滞りなく (without delay/obstacle)
  4. 気分がさっぱりと (refreshed/neat/plain feelings)

So what do all these have in common? All of them vaguely mean _smooth_. I'd
describe すっと as pretty much an onomatopoeia (though I don't think it's
officially classified as such). In English you may say _zzzzzzip_.

> すっと伸びた枝 - a branch growing out _straight_

"The branch grows out like _zzzzzzzip_." (smooth and straight)

> すっと立って老人に席を譲った - He _immediately stood up_ and gave his seat to the elderly

"He stood up like _zzzzzzip_." (in a flash, smoothly, without delay)

> 彼はすっと大学に入った - He was admitted to college _straight_ out of high school

"He was admitted like _zzzzzzzip_." (smoothly, without delay)

> よく寝たので頭がすっとした - As I had a good sleep, I _feel refreshed_.

"My head feels like _zzzzzzzip_." (fresh, clear)

For your case, I think neither _quickly_ nor _gently_ translate very well:

> カタツムリがすっと角を出した。

"The snail extended her horns like _zzzzzzzzzip_."

In the case of a snail, that probably means both smooth and fast (as far as
snails go). The horns just extended like _すっと_.

I hope this gives you more of a feel of how this is used. When used in speech,
accompanied by a hand motion, it's pretty much self-explanatory. :)




My dictionary defines すっと with these _four_ meanings:

  1. 真っすぐ，ほっそりと (straight or slender)
  2. 素早く (quickly)
  3. 滞りなく (without delay/obstacle)
  4. 気分がさっぱりと (refreshed/neat/plain feelings)

So what do all these have in common? All of them vaguely mean _smooth_. I'd
describe すっと as pretty much an onomatopoeia (though I don't think it's
officially classified as such). In English you may say _zzzzzzip_.

> すっと伸びた枝 - a branch growing out _straight_

"The branch grows out like _zzzzzzzip_." (smooth and straight)

> すっと立って老人に席を譲った - He _immediately stood up_ and gave his seat to the elderly

"He stood up like _zzzzzzip_." (in a flash, smoothly, without delay)

> 彼はすっと大学に入った - He was admitted to college _straight_ out of high school

"He was admitted like _zzzzzzzip_." (smoothly, without delay)

> よく寝たので頭がすっとした - As I had a good sleep, I _feel refreshed_.

"My head feels like _zzzzzzzip_." (fresh, clear)

For your case, I think neither _quickly_ nor _gently_ translate very well:

> カタツムリがすっと角を出した。

"The snail extended her horns like _zzzzzzzzzip_."

In the case of a snail, that probably means both smooth and fast (as far as
snails go). The horns just extended like _すっと_.

I hope this gives you more of a feel of how this is used. When used in speech,
accompanied by a hand motion, it's pretty much self-explanatory. :)

