ota-ota
In a state of confused panic, not knowing what to do. More visible and clumsy than 'awateru'.
💡Spilling coffee on important documents — 'He was ota-ota trying to clean it up.'
突然のトラブルにおたおたしてしまった。
I was ota-ota panicking over the sudden trouble.
When the fire alarm went off, the new employee was ___ not knowing what to do.
火災報知器が鳴って、新入社員は○○してしまった。