Entry
ゲソゲソ
gesogeso
Describes someone who looks extremely thin, gaunt, or haggard, usually from illness or stress.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
ゲソゲソ (gesogeso) is used to describe an unhealthy level of thinness. It portrays a person or animal that looks emaciated, gaunt, or hollowed out, often as a result of sickness, severe stress, or sudden weight loss.
- unhealthily thin
- haggard face
Sense Map
Gaunt Body
Being unhealthily thin or emaciated in body, typically due to illness or fatigue.
ゲソゲソに痩せた猫
Haggard Face
Having sunken cheeks and a haggard, exhausted facial appearance.
ゲソゲソの顔
Usage Note
How to Use
ゲソゲソになる
Means to become gaunt or to waste away.
ゲソゲソに + verb
Used as an adverb to modify verbs like 痩せる (to lose weight).
ゲソゲソの + noun
Modifies a noun to describe a gaunt appearance, such as ゲソゲソの顔 meaning gaunt face.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ゲソゲソに痩せる
to become extremely thin
ゲソゲソになる
to become gaunt
ゲソゲソの顔
a haggard face
すっかりゲソゲソだ
to be completely emaciated
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | negative | Always describes unhealthy or severe weight loss. |
| Appearance | negative | Suggests the person looks exhausted, hollow, or unwell. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
げっそり げっそり / similar | When someone suddenly loses weight, or loses all their energy and motivation due to disappointment. | げっそり focuses on suddenness or emotional deflation, whereas ゲソゲソ focuses purely on the continuous physical state of being gaunt. | 病気でげっそり痩せた。 |
がりがり がりがり / similar | When someone is literally skin and bones or visibly bony. | がりがり implies a bony frame, whereas ゲソゲソ implies looking unhealthy, drained, or hollowed out. | がりがりに痩せている。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to compliment someone's successful diet.
It implies looking sick or unhealthily thin. Use ほっそり (slender) for compliments.
Using it for emotional disappointment.
Use げっそり (gessori) when talking about being disheartened or suddenly losing energy.
Examples
Examples
病気でゲソゲソに痩せてしまった。
びょうき で ゲソゲソ に やせて しまった。
I lost a lot of weight and became gaunt from illness.
VisualDescribes a physical transformation caused by health issues.
彼の顔はゲソゲソだ。
かれ の かお は ゲソゲソ だ。
His face looks gaunt.
VisualFocuses on the facial appearance, implying sunken cheeks.
毎日残業で、すっかりゲソゲソになった。
まいにち ざんぎょう で、 すっかり ゲソゲソ に なった。
Working overtime every day has made me completely gaunt.
VisualShows how severe stress or overwork impacts physical health.
公園でゲソゲソに痩せた猫を見た。
こうえん で ゲソゲソ に やせた ねこ を みた。
I saw an emaciated cat in the park.
VisualThis word can be applied to animals as well as humans.
彼はゲソゲソの姿で現れた。
かれ は ゲソゲソ の すがた で あらわれた。
He appeared looking emaciated.
VisualModifies a noun describing overall appearance or figure.
Similar Words
げっそり
gessori
Describes looking very thin or emaciated (especially in the face), or feeling completely drained and discouraged after a shock. Shares the meaning of becoming thin, but げっそり often focuses on suddenness or emotional disappointment.
がりがり
garigari
This word describes a loud crunching or scratching sound, a very hard texture, or an unhealthily thin, bony body. Both describe thinness, but がりがり specifically emphasizes prominent bones (skin and bones).
Questions
Can I use ゲソゲソ to say someone is slim?
No, it implies they look unhealthily thin, sick, or exhausted. Use ほっそり for expressing that someone is slim or slender.
What is the difference between ゲソゲソ and げっそり?
ゲソゲソ describes the physical state of being gaunt. げっそり can also describe sudden physical weight loss, but is very commonly used for emotional exhaustion or deep disappointment.
Does ゲソゲソ refer to seeing bones?
Not directly. While it means thin, がりがり (garigari) is the word specifically used to describe a bony, skin and bones appearance.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2431020
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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