Entry
げっそり
gessori
Describes looking very thin or emaciated (especially in the face), or feeling completely drained and discouraged after a shock.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Gessori expresses a sudden and noticeable loss of volume or vigor. Physically, it refers to looking gaunt due to illness, overwork, or stress. Psychologically, it describes being disheartened or drained of spirit after a major disappointment.
- Physical emaciation or sudden weight loss
- Mental dejection or loss of spirit
Sense Map
Physical Appearance
Looking gaunt or emaciated, often with sunken cheeks, due to unhealthy causes like illness or overwork.
病気でげっそり痩せる。
Emotional State
Being completely disheartened or losing all motivation after receiving bad news or a shock.
不合格の通知を見てげっそりする。
Usage Note
How to Use
げっそりする
Used to describe a current state of being dejected or looking thin.
げっそりと
Functions as an adverb to describe how someone has lost weight or how they look.
げっそりした + noun
Modifies a noun, such as 'a haggard face'.
げっそり痩せる
A specific pattern for emphasizing sudden and severe weight loss.
How to Use
Common Phrases
げっそり痩せる
to become emaciated
げっそりした顔
a haggard face
頬がげっそりする
cheeks become sunken
げっそりと落胆する
to be deeply disheartened
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Health | negative | Implies the person looks sickly or worryingly thin. |
| Emotion | negative | Used when someone is so disappointed that their energy seems completely gone. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
がりがり がりがり / nearby | Use for people who are constitutionally very skinny (bony). | Gessori emphasizes the 'process' of losing weight or looking sickly, not just the body type. | 彼はがりがりに痩せている。 |
がっかり がっかり / nearby | Use for common disappointment. | Gessori is much heavier and implies a visible loss of energy or a haggard look. | テストの結果にがっかりする。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using gessori to compliment someone on their weight loss.
Gessori sounds unhealthy or sad. Use 'sukkiri' or 'pittari' for positive weight loss results.
Thinking gessori is the same as 'thin' for objects.
'Usui' or 'hosoi' are for objects/shapes; gessori is for physical/mental volume loss in living beings.
Examples
Examples
一週間も熱が続いて、彼はげっそり痩せてしまった。
いっしゅうかんもねつがつづいて、かれはげっそりやせてしまった。
After having a fever for a whole week, he has become quite emaciated.
VisualDescribes a visible physical change due to illness.
借金の額を聞いて、父はげっそりした顔をしていた。
しゃっきんのがくをきいて、ちちはげっそりしたかおをしていた。
Upon hearing the amount of the debt, my father looked completely dejected.
FigurativeShows a facial expression losing spirit due to mental shock.
残業続きで頬がげっそりこけてしまった。
ざんぎょうつづきでほおがげっそりこけてしまった。
My cheeks have become sunken from continuous overtime work.
VisualDescribes specific physical detail of the cheeks.
あんなに太っていた彼が、一ヶ月でげっそりと変わってしまった。
あんなにふとっていたかれが、いっかげつでげっそりとかわってしまった。
He used to be so stout, but in just one month, he has changed to look emaciated.
LiteralEmphasizes the drastic contrast in physical change.
楽しみにしていた旅行が中止になり、子供たちはげっそりしている。
たのしみにしていたりょこうがちゅうしになり、こどもたちはげっそりしている。
The trip they were looking forward to was canceled, and the children are deeply discouraged.
FigurativeDescribes the children's mental state of losing energy due to disappointment.
Similar Words
がっかり
gakkari
To feel disappointed or lose spirit when things don't turn out as expected. General disappointment, doesn't always imply looking thin.
ゲソゲソ
gesogeso
Describes someone who looks extremely thin, gaunt, or haggard, usually from illness or stress.
がっくり
gakkuri
Describes a sudden and profound drop in spirit or physical posture caused by sharp disappointment or exhaustion.
げんなり
gennari
A state of losing energy, motivation, or patience due to exhaustion or tediousness.
がりがり
garigari
This word describes a loud crunching or scratching sound, a very hard texture, or an unhealthily thin, bony body. Very skinny (bony), usually referring to body type.
Questions
Can I use gessori for a successful diet?
No, it implies looking haggard or sickly. It is not a compliment.
What is the difference between gessori and gakkuri?
Gakkuri is about a physical drop or collapse of posture due to shock, while gessori is about looking thin or drained.
Can I use it for inanimate objects?
Generally no. It is reserved for people or animals that show physical or mental signs of being drained.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1004250
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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