Entry
がぶり
gaburi
A mimetic word describing the action of taking a large, vigorous bite or drinking in one big gulp.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
がぶり (gaburi) expresses the sudden, forceful action of opening one's mouth wide to take a large bite of food, sink one's teeth into something, or gulp down a large amount of liquid at once.
- forceful bite
- large gulp of liquid
Sense Map
Biting and Chomping
Describes opening the mouth wide to take a large, energetic bite or to forcefully sink teeth into something.
リンゴをがぶりとかじる。
Gulping Drinks
Describes drinking a large amount of liquid at once in a vigorous gulp.
冷たい水をがぶりと飲む。
Usage Note
How to Use
がぶりと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action (like biting or drinking) is performed. The 'と' particle emphasizes the specific manner of the action.
How to Use
Common Phrases
がぶりと噛みつく
to bite into forcefully
がぶりと食べる
to eat with a huge bite
がぶりと飲む
to gulp down
がぶりとかじる
to chomp into
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eating large fruits or meat | neutral to positive | Highlights a healthy, hearty appetite and enjoyment of the food. |
| An animal attacking | intense | Emphasizes the ferocity and forcefulness of an animal biting its prey. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
がぶっと がぶっと / similar | Very similar to がぶり but sounds slightly more momentary and conversational, emphasizing the suddenness of the bite. | The meaning is practically identical, but ガブッと focuses slightly more on the sharp, instantaneous moment of the action. | パンをガブッと食べる。 |
ごくり ごくり / similar | Use to describe the heavy sound of swallowing liquid or saliva in the throat. | Unlike がぶり, which focuses on the forceful action of the mouth taking in the liquid, ゴクリ focuses strictly on the throat and the swallowing sound. | 唾をゴクリと飲み込む。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe taking small, polite bites.
がぶり strictly implies a large, forceful, and often unrefined bite. For small bites, use ちょこちょこ or 少しずつ.
Applying it to actions not involving the mouth.
It is a specialized mimetic word only used for actions of the mouth, specifically biting, chewing, and gulping.
Examples
Examples
虎が獲物にがぶりと噛みついた。
とらがえものにがぶりとかみついた。
The tiger bit into its prey forcefully.
LiteralShows a forceful animal bite.
大きなリンゴをがぶりと食べた。
おおきなりんごをがぶりとたべた。
I ate the big apple with a large bite.
LiteralShows taking a large bite of solid food.
彼はジョッキのビールをがぶりと飲んだ。
かれはじょっきのびーるをがぶりとのんだ。
He drank the mug of beer in a big gulp.
VisualThe action of gulping down a lot of liquid.
犬が骨にがぶりと食らいつく。
いぬがほねにがぶりとくらいつく。
The dog vigorously bites into the bone.
LiteralFocuses on the energy of the bite.
スイカをがぶりとかじるのが好きだ。
すいかをがぶりとかじるのがすきだ。
I like taking big bites of watermelon.
LiteralShows an enthusiastic way of eating.
Similar Words
ガブッと
gabutto
Emphasizes a sudden, momentary bite.
Questions
Can I use がぶり for eating soup?
No, がぶり is used for gulping liquids or biting solids. Soup is usually sipped or eaten with a spoon, so words like ごくごく (gulping continuously) or すする (slurping) are more appropriate.
What is the difference between がぶり and ぱくり?
ぱくり (pakuri) describes opening the mouth and popping something in, often easily or in one casual bite. がぶり implies much more force, effort, and a larger bite.
Is it mostly used for animals?
It is frequently used for animal bites, but it is equally common for humans taking big, enthusiastic bites of food like watermelon or sandwiches.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2007760
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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