Entry
ぐぶぐぶ
gubugubu
The sound made by swishing liquid around inside the mouth while rinsing or gargling.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A Japanese onomatopoeia (giongo) that describes the gurgling sound made when rinsing the mouth or gargling with liquid. It emphasizes the presence of a certain volume of liquid being moved vigorously within the oral cavity.
- Describes a gurgling sound inside the mouth.
- Used for mouth rinsing or gargling actions.
Sense Map
Mouth Rinsing
Moving liquid inside the closed mouth to clean teeth and cheeks.
ぐぶぐぶと口をゆすぐ
Gargling
Agitating liquid in the back of the throat or mouth for hygiene.
ぐぶぐぶとうがいをする
Usage Note
How to Use
ぐぶぐぶする
Functions as a suru-verb meaning to gargle or swish liquid in the mouth.
ぐぶぐぶと
Functions as an adverb describing the manner of an action, typically followed by a verb like rinse.
ぐぶぐぶいう
Used to describe the actual sound being produced by the mouth.
ぐぶぐぶした音
An adjectival form describing a gurgling sound as a noun.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぐぶぐぶする
to gargle or swish
ぐぶぐぶと口をゆすぐ
to rinse mouth with a gurgling sound
ぐぶぐぶとうがい
gargling with a gurgling sound
ぐぶぐぶいう音
a gurgling sound
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Hygiene | Neutral | Commonly used in the context of brushing teeth or using mouthwash. |
| Medical/Dental | Neutral | May be used by dentists when instructing patients to rinse their mouths. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ごぼごぼ ごぼごぼ / similar | For the sound of water gushing from a pipe, fountain, or drain. | Gubugubu is specifically for sounds produced inside the mouth. | 排水口がごぼごぼ鳴る。 |
がらがら がらがら / contrast | For gargling with the head tilted back, focusing on cleaning the throat. | Gubugubu is used with the mouth closed, focusing on swishing water in the cheeks. | 喉をがらがら洗う。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Confusing it with the sound of drinking.
For the sound of drinking (gulping), use gokugoku (ごくごく).
Using it for water flowing in a sink.
For water gurgling in a pipe or sink, use gobogobo (ごぼごぼ).
Examples
Examples
歯を磨いた後、ぐぶぐぶと口をゆすいだ。
はをみがいたあと、ぐぶぐぶとくちをゆすいだ。
After brushing my teeth, I rinsed my mouth with a gurgling sound.
LiteralDescribes the action of rinsing the mouth after brushing teeth.
彼はマウスウォッシュを使って、三十秒間ぐぶぐぶした。
かれはマウスウォッシュをつかって、さんじゅうびょうかんぐぶぐぶした。
He used mouthwash and swished it for 30 seconds.
LiteralUsing gubugubu as a verb.
帰宅したら、すぐにぐぶぐぶとうがいをしましょう。
きたくしたら、すぐにぐぶぐぶとうがいをしましょう。
Let's gargle right away when we get home.
LiteralRecommendation to gargle for health.
ぐぶぐぶという音が洗面所から聞こえてきた。
ぐぶぐぶというおとがせんめんじょからきこえてきた。
A gurgling sound was heard from the washroom.
LiteralDescribes the sound as a subject.
薬を口に含んでぐぶぐぶさせ、汚れを落とした。
くすりをくちにふくんでぐぶぐぶさせ、よごれをおとした。
I took the medicine in my mouth, swished it around, and removed the dirt.
LiteralAction of cleaning the mouth with liquid.
Similar Words
ごぼごぼ
gobogobo
The heavy, wet sound of a large amount of liquid bubbling, gurgling, or mixing with air. Used for water flowing in pipes or drains.
ガラガラ
garagara
A word describing a loud rattling or clattering sound, or a state where a place is strikingly empty of people. Used for gargling in the throat with the head tilted back.
Questions
What is the difference between gubugubu and garagara?
Garagara is the sound of gargling with your head back for your throat, while gubugubu is the sound of swishing water with your mouth closed for your mouth/cheeks.
Can it be used for drinking?
No, gubugubu is only for the sound of moving liquid around in the mouth. For drinking sounds, use gokugoku.
Is it written in katakana?
It can be, especially if you want to emphasize the sound visually, but hiragana is more standard for body-related sounds.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1004100
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- ぐにゃぐにゃ (gunyagunya)
- Next entry
- ぐるぐる (guruguru)