Entry
ブヨブヨ
buyobuyo
ブヨブヨ (buyobuyo) describes something that is overly soft, lacks firmness, or is flabby to the touch.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word paints a picture of a texture that has lost its tightness and become mushy or overly soft. It is commonly used for flabby stomachs, overripe and mushy fruit, or soggy ground, and often carries a slightly negative connotation.
- flabby flesh/fat
- mushy food/fruit
- soggy ground
Sense Map
Fat or Flesh
Flesh or stomachs that are flabby and lack muscle tone.
お腹がブヨブヨになる。
Food or Fruit
Food or fruit that has become mushy due to overripeness or too much moisture.
ブヨブヨになったトマト。
Soggy objects or Ground
Something soft and waterlogged, like muddy ground or wet paper.
雨でブヨブヨの土。
Usage Note
How to Use
ブヨブヨする
Used as a verb to state that something feels flabby or mushy.
ブヨブヨな + noun
Modifies a noun to describe it as having a flabby or soggy texture.
ブヨブヨの + noun
Similar to the 'na' form, it connects to a noun to denote a mushy state.
ブヨブヨに + verb
Describes how something changes into a flabby or mushy state.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ブヨブヨのお腹
flabby belly
ブヨブヨになる
to become flabby / mushy
ブヨブヨの肉
flabby meat/flesh
ブヨブヨとした
soft and flabby (feeling)
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Describing bodies (bellies, arms) | negative | Implies excess fat and a lack of muscle tone. |
| Describing food (fruit, vegetables) | negative | Indicates the food is starting to rot or is unpleasantly waterlogged. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぽよぽよ ぽよぽよ / similar | Used for something pleasantly soft and bouncy, often with a cute vibe. | ブヨブヨ tends to be negative (flabby/soggy), whereas ぽよぽよ is positive and pleasantly soft. | ぽよぽよのほっぺた |
ぐにゃぐにゃ ぐにゃぐにゃ / similar | Used for solid objects that have lost their shape and can be easily bent. | ブヨブヨ focuses on a soft, watery, or fatty surface texture rather than bending out of shape. | ぐにゃぐにゃに曲がる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ブヨブヨ to describe a comfortable bed or pillow.
Use ふかふか (fukafuka) or ふわふわ (fuwafuwa) for comfortable softness. ブヨブヨ implies an undesirable mushiness.
Using ブヨブヨ to compliment a delightfully chewy dessert like mochi.
Delicious chewiness is もちもち (mochimochi). ブヨブヨ means mushy from excess water or spoilage.
Examples
Examples
運動不足で、お腹がブヨブヨになってしまった。
うんどうぶそくで、おなかがブヨブヨになってしまった。
Due to a lack of exercise, my belly has become flabby.
LiteralShows a belly with excess fat.
古くなったトマトがブヨブヨしている。
ふるくなったトマトがブヨブヨしている。
The old tomato feels mushy.
LiteralDescribes a fruit that lost its firmness due to overripeness.
雨が降って、グラウンドがブヨブヨだ。
あめがふって、グラウンドがブヨブヨだ。
Because it rained, the sports ground is soggy.
VisualGround that absorbed a lot of water and became soft.
指で押すと、ブヨブヨとした感触がする。
ゆびでおすと、ブヨブヨとしたかんしょくがする。
When you press it with a finger, it has a soft, flabby feel.
LiteralThe tactile sensation of an object lacking firmness.
水に浸かりすぎて、紙がブヨブヨにふやけた。
みずにつかりすぎて、かみがブヨブヨにふやけた。
Soaked in water for too long, the paper became swollen and mushy.
VisualSomething that becomes soft and loses shape from water absorption.
Similar Words
ぽよぽよ
poyopoyo
Used for something pleasantly soft and bouncy.
ぐにゃぐにゃ
gunyagunya
The state of being extremely soft, limp, or easily bent out of shape, like soft rubber or weak limbs. Used for solid objects that have lost their shape and bend easily.
ふわふわ
fuwafuwa
Fuwafuwa describes things that are light, airy, and soft to the touch, or things that float and drift gently.
じめじめ
jimejime
Describes an uncomfortably damp, humid environment, or a gloomy, persistently negative personality or mood.
Questions
Can I use ブヨブヨ to praise soft skin?
No. If you want to praise soft skin, use もちもち (mochimochi) or すべすべ (subesube). ブヨブヨ sounds like flabby or fatty.
What is the difference between ブヨブヨ and ふわふわ?
ふわふわ is a light, airy softness (like a cloud or cotton), while ブヨブヨ is a heavy, waterlogged, or fatty softness.
Are ブヨブヨ and ぶよぶよ the same?
Yes, they mean exactly the same thing. Katakana is often used to highlight the sensory texture.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1011210
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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