Entry
ごわごわ
gowagowa
Describes the texture of something—typically fabric or hair—that feels stiff, coarse, and inflexible to the touch.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word conveys a lack of softness in materials that are normally expected to be pliable. It is commonly used for heavily starched shirts, brand-new denim, towels that have been washed too many times, or dry and damaged hair.
- Used for fabric, towels, and clothes that feel stiff and uncomfortable.
- Used for hair that is dry, coarse, or damaged.
Sense Map
Fabric & Clothing
Describes textiles, towels, or clothes that lack softness and feel thick, stiff, or rough against the skin.
タオルがごわごわになる
Hair
Describes hair that feels coarse, dry, or damaged, often lacking moisture and flexibility.
髪がごわごわしている
Usage Note
How to Use
ごわごわする
Used as a verb to state that something feels stiff or coarse to the touch.
ごわごわしている
The ongoing state form (te-iru), which is very common for describing the current stiff condition of an object.
ごわごわな + noun
ごわごわだ
How to Use
Common Phrases
ごわごわした布
stiff cloth
髪がごわごわする
hair feels coarse
ごわごわのタオル
stiff towel
生地がごわごわだ
the fabric is stiff
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Towels and Clothes | negative | Indicates the item is uncomfortable against the skin, perhaps due to over-washing or heavy starch. |
| Hair | negative | Implies the hair is unhealthy, dry, and difficult to manage. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ばりばり ばりばり / similar | Use when something is so stiff or frozen that it crackles, crunches, or might snap if bent. | While both mean stiff, バリバリ focuses on extreme hardness and the crackling sound it makes, whereas ごわごわ is purely about the inflexible, coarse feeling on the skin. | バリバリに凍ったシャツ |
がびがび がびがび / similar | Use when something wet or sticky has dried up into a hard crust. | ガビガビ is for things covered in dried crust (like dried mud or glue), while ごわごわ is for the inherent stiffness of fibers. | 泥でガビガビの靴 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for 'stiff shoulders'.
For stiff muscles or shoulders, Japanese uses 肩がこる (kata ga koru) or コリコリ (korikori), not ごわごわ.
Using it to describe a 'stiff' or overly formal personality/atmosphere.
For social situations or personality, use words like ギスギス (gisugisu) or ガチガチ (gachigachi).
Examples
Examples
何度も洗ったタオルがごわごわになった。
なんどもあらったタオルがごわごわになった。
The towel, washed many times, became stiff and coarse.
VisualUsed for fabric that has lost its softness from being washed too much.
髪の毛が傷んでごわごわしている。
かみのけがいたんでごわごわしている。
My hair is damaged and feels coarse.
VisualVery commonly used to describe dry or damaged hair.
買ったばかりのジーンズは生地がごわごわだ。
かったばかりのジーンズはきじがごわごわだ。
The fabric of the newly bought jeans is stiff.
VisualBrand-new denim is a classic example of gowagowa before it softens.
のりをきかせすぎたシャツがごわごわする。
のりをきかせすぎたシャツがごわごわする。
The heavily starched shirt feels stiff.
VisualStarch makes clothes stiff, expressed with the verb gowagowa suru.
厚くてごわごわした布で袋を作った。
あつくてごわごわしたぬのでふくろをつくった。
I made a bag with thick, stiff cloth.
VisualAn example of gowagowa directly modifying a noun.
Similar Words
ガビガビ
gabigabi
Stiffness caused by dried liquid or dirt (like dried mud or glue) forming a crust.
Questions
Can I use ごわごわ to describe a hard rock or metal?
No. It is specifically for fibrous materials (cloth, hair, paper) that lack their usual softness.
Does it ever have a positive meaning?
Very rarely. It's almost always used to point out an uncomfortable lack of softness.
How is it different from バリバリ (baribari)?
バリバリ describes a stiffness that is accompanied by a crackling or tearing sound when bent, while ごわごわ simply feels thick, stiff, and rough to the touch.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1631920
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- ゴツゴツ (gotsugotsu)
- Next entry
- ざあっ (zaa)