Entry
がっつり
gattsuri
Describes doing something heartily, fully, or with great vigor, often used for eating a lot or tackling a task head-on.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A highly colloquial adverb that describes an action done thoroughly, plentifully, and with significant energy. It is most commonly used to describe eating a large, hearty meal with a good appetite, or engaging completely in an activity like working, studying, or earning money.
- eating a large amount heartily
- doing a task thoroughly and energetically
Sense Map
Eating heartily
Eating a substantial amount of food with great appetite and vigor.
焼肉をがっつり食べる。
Doing thoroughly
Tackling an activity, such as working or studying, completely and with full energy.
今日はがっつり稼ぐ。
Usage Note
How to Use
がっつり + verb
Used directly before a verb to describe doing that action heartily or fully.
がっつりと + verb
Adds the particle 'to' for a slightly more emphasized adverbial phrase, with the same meaning.
How to Use
Common Phrases
がっつり食べる
to eat heartily / eat a lot
がっつり稼ぐ
to earn a lot of money
がっつり働く
to work completely / work hard
がっつり休む
to take a proper, full rest
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eating a meal | positive | Suggests a hearty appetite and a satisfying, often heavy or meaty meal. |
| Working or studying | neutral | Shows high motivation and intense effort, though casual in tone. |
| Formal settings | negative | Sounds too casual and slightly rough; inappropriate for professional communication. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
たっぷり たっぷり / similar | Use to describe an ample or abundant quantity or volume of something. | Focuses on the large amount itself, whereas がっつり focuses on the energetic action of consuming or doing. | 野菜をたっぷり入れる。 |
しっかり しっかり / similar | Use to describe doing something reliably, firmly, or properly. | Focuses on reliability and responsibility, whereas がっつり is colloquial and focuses on vigorous, hearty execution. | しっかり勉強する。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using in formal business environments.
Use しっかり (shikkari) or 十分に (juubun ni) instead, as がっつり is a very casual, slangy term.
Thinking it only means 'a lot' in terms of physical objects.
It describes the action being done heavily or vigorously, not just a static pile of things. For objects, use たくさん (takusan).
Examples
Examples
昨日は焼肉をがっつり食べた。
きのうはやきにくをがっつりたべた。
I ate a massive amount of Korean BBQ yesterday.
LiteralShows eating a heavy meal with a great appetite.
夏休みはアルバイトでがっつり稼ぎたい。
なつやすみはアルバイトでがっつりかせぎたい。
I want to earn a lot of money from my part-time job during summer vacation.
FigurativeTackling a task with vigor to get a large result.
週末はがっつり休んで、疲れをとるつもりだ。
しゅうまつはがっつりやすんで、つかれをとるつもりだ。
I plan to rest fully this weekend to recover from my fatigue.
FigurativeDoing something fully without holding back, in this case, resting.
試験の前日はがっつり勉強した。
しけんのぜんじつはがっつりべんきょうした。
The day before the exam, I studied extremely hard.
FigurativeEngaging completely in an activity with full energy.
遅刻して、先生にがっつり怒られた。
ちこくして、せんせいにがっつりおこられた。
I got scolded severely by the teacher for being late.
FigurativeUsed to show that an action was done to a severe or extensive degree.
Similar Words
たっぷり
tappuri
たっぷり describes having an abundant, highly satisfying amount of something or having ample, loose space. Use to describe an ample or abundant quantity or volume of something. Focuses on the large amount itself, whereas がっつり focuses on the energetic action of consuming or doing.
しっかり
shikkari
Describes a state of being firm, secure, or doing something thoroughly and reliably. Use to describe doing something reliably, firmly, or properly. Focuses on reliability and responsibility, whereas がっつり is colloquial and focuses on vigorous, hearty execution.
どっさり
dossari
A surprisingly large amount of physical objects piling up, or the heavy thud of a large mass dropping.
Questions
Is がっつり polite?
No, it is a casual, colloquial term. You should avoid using it with superiors or in formal business settings.
Can I use がっつり for negative things?
It is usually used for positive or neutral actions done with vigor, but can sometimes be used for negative impacts like getting severely scolded (がっつり怒られた) in a casual tone.
What is the difference between がっつり and ガッツリ?
They mean exactly the same thing. Katakana (ガッツリ) is often used for visual emphasis, especially in casual writing or menus.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2117660
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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