Meaning:
to lose self confidence, to be unable to concentrate

Usage Example:
教科書を忘れたことに気づかないまま授業が始まってしまい、僕はあわあわしながら手を挙げた。 (Class had already started when I realized I forgot my textbook; I raised my hand hesitantly.)

Meaning:
clear, obvious

Usage Example:
羽根の模様があらりとしているものが高値で取引される。

Meaning:
vague, uncertain, ambiguous

Usage Example:
条件があやふやな状態で契約を結んでしまい、私たちはすっかり困っている。 (We don’t know what to do after having signed that contract with provisions we’re unsure of.)

Meaning:
chew food, etc. (baby talk)

Usage Example:
その子は親の怒りなど気にも留めず、あむあむと柔らかいパンを頬張っていた。 (That kid didn’t mind his parents getting mad at him, he just kept stuffing his face with bread.)

Meaning:
backwards, opposite, wrong way, in reverse order, contrary

Usage Example:
失敗の原因はまるであべこべな手順で実験を進めたことだった。 (The reason for the experiment failing was a backwards manual.)

Meaning:
1. out of breath, out of energy
2. be in a state of misery because of a sexual encounter

Usage Example:
町内を走り回った叔父さんはあへあへと息を切らしていた。 (My uncle was out of breath from running around town.)

Meaning:
to wait or stand around with a blank look on one’s face, play/mischief with no clear reason

Usage Example:
男は仕事をせず、趣味もなく、ただあふらあふらと遊ぶばかりだった。 (The guy doesn’t work, has no hobbies but just plays around.)

Variations:
アフラアフラ

Notes:
used predominantly in and around Tokyo (東京の方言)

Meaning:
1. to open and close mouth, to struggle for air in water (similar to appu appu – あっぷあっぷ)
2. the voice or sound of a happy baby that is just starting to talk
2. to be afraid, feel chilly, fearful

Usage Example:
1. 海水を大量に飲み込み、その人はあぶあぶともがいた。 (That person struggled from drinking huge amounts of sea water.)
2. 嬉しそうな顔をした赤ん坊が、あぶあぶと言葉にならない声を漏らした。 (The happy looking baby made a sound words can’t describe.)

Meaning:
laugh loudly

Usage Example:
仄ほのかに酒の匂いのする彼は、あははと嬉しそうに笑った。 (With a slight smell of alcohol he looked happy and laughed ahaha.)

Variations:
アッハッハ, あっはっは

Meaning:
flustered, hastily, hurried

Usage Example:
「そんなにあばちゃばするなよ」と先輩はコーヒーに砂糖を溶かしながら言った。 (“Don’t get all flustered,” he said as he put sugar in his coffee.)

Notes:
used predominantly in and around Yamanashi prefecture (山梨の方言)