If you remember just one thing, make it this: kaku-kaku is an onomatopoeia that signals non-smooth, stop-start, or stiff motion. Whether it’s a character moving awkwardly, a robot behaving mechanically, or a device lagging under pressure, the word is doing the same job—turning timing and movement quality into a compact, vivid image.
Use the scene to fine-tune your translation. When in doubt, think “jerky” first, then adjust to “stiff,” “choppy,” or “click-clunky” based on what you actually see or what the sentence emphasizes.
