What’s the difference between サクサク and パリパリ


I have a question about Japanese onomatopoeia (擬態語). What is the difference
between サクサク and パリパリ? Are there situations where using one instead of the
other is incorrect? As I understand it, they both mean “crispy”.




Just a quick search on cookpad,

The 1st page of
[パリパリ](https://cookpad.com/search/%E3%83%91%E3%83%AA%E3%83%91%E3%83%AA) has
"Salad with bean sprouts, white radish, cabbage, lettuce", "Rice crackers",
"Pizza made of gyoza sheet", "Cheese crisps", etc.

I think the food texture is kind of [crispy and
hard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispiness). Its sound might be loud and
high. So it can be audible to others when you eat it.

The 1st page of menu of
[サクサク](https://cookpad.com/search/%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AF) has
"Tempura", "Scone", "Sardine Cheese Puffs", "Chocolate Banana Muffin", "Butter
cookies", etc.

I think the food texture is kind of [crunchy, soft and
mild](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunchiness). It does not sound so much
that other people might not hear when you eat it.




パリパリ focuses on crunchiness, dryness or hardness of a food that is typically
soft. It's used both positively and negatively. For example, deep-fried
spaghetti and overcooked French fries are described as パリパリ.

On the other hand, サクサク is always positive and focuses mainly on "brittleness"
of a food, like that of a biscuit. A food that is サクサク is moderately hard, but
is easily and quickly broken in the mouth. Outside food contexts, サクサク usually
refers to softness or smoothness (e.g., 仕事がサクサク終わった = I finished my job
smoothly.)

