Entry
ぐじゃぐじゃ
gujaguja
ぐじゃぐじゃ describes the state of something that has lost its shape from becoming completely soggy, or the annoying action of complaining persistently.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This term primarily refers to physical objects that have absorbed too much liquid, becoming mushy, crushed, and losing their original texture (such as muddy ground or ruined food). Figuratively, it is used negatively to describe someone who is being annoyingly whiny, constantly complaining, or making endless excuses.
- Completely soggy and mashed
- Complaining or whining incessantly
Sense Map
Physical (Soggy & Mashed)
Describes something that is soaking wet, mushy, or crushed, such as mud, wet paper, or ruined food.
雨で道がぐじゃぐじゃだ。
Figurative (Complaining)
Describes a person who incessantly complains, whines, or makes tedious excuses that annoy others.
いつまでもぐじゃぐじゃ言うな。
Usage Note
How to Use
ぐじゃぐじゃになる
Used to express that something has changed into a soggy, mushy, or ruined state.
ぐじゃぐじゃに + verb
Acts as an adverb modifying verbs like 'crush' to describe how an object becomes mushy and shapeless due to moisture.
ぐじゃぐじゃ言う
A fixed expression used to describe the annoying act of complaining, whining, or making excuses incessantly.
ぐじゃぐじゃな + noun
Used as a na-adjective to directly modify a noun, describing it as soggy, mushy, or ruined.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぐじゃぐじゃになる
to become soggy and mashed
ぐじゃぐじゃに潰れる
to be crushed into mush
ぐじゃぐじゃ言う
to complain incessantly
ぐじゃぐじゃの道
a soggy, muddy path
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wet objects or terrain | negative | Implies ruin or discomfort due to excessive moisture, causing a loss of structural integrity (e.g., thick mud, ruined food). |
| Complaining or making excuses | negative | Used to criticize someone for being annoying, persistent, and petty with their words. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぐしゃぐしゃ ぐしゃぐしゃ / similar | When something is crumpled, crushed, or very wet. | ぐじゃぐじゃ implies a wetter, muddier, or more mashed state, while ぐしゃぐしゃ often implies something crumpled (like paper or a crying face) or wet but not necessarily reduced to mush. | 紙をぐしゃぐしゃに丸める。 |
びしょびしょ びしょびしょ / similar | When something is completely soaked with liquid. | びしょびしょ only describes wetness without implying that the object has lost its shape or become mushy. | 雨で服がびしょびしょだ。 |
ごちゃごちゃ ごちゃごちゃ / similar | When things are mixed up, messy, or chaotic, or when someone is complaining. | Unlike ぐじゃぐじゃ, ごちゃごちゃ does not imply wetness; it focuses on visual disorder. For complaining, it emphasizes disorganized or complicated complaints. | 机の上がごちゃごちゃしている。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ぐじゃぐじゃ for things that are simply wet but structurally intact.
Use びしょびしょ for plain wetness. ぐじゃぐじゃ implies the object has become mushy or lost its shape due to moisture.
Using it to describe legitimate or serious complaints.
This word implies the complaints are annoying, petty, and persistent. Using it for serious matters sounds highly dismissive.
Examples
Examples
雨でグラウンドがぐじゃぐじゃになった。
あめ で グラウンド が ぐじゃぐじゃ に なった。
The sports ground became totally soggy and muddy because of the rain.
VisualDescribes the ground losing its firmness and turning into mud.
かばんの中でトマトがぐじゃぐじゃに潰れていた。
かばん の なか で トマト が ぐじゃぐじゃ に つぶれていた。
The tomato inside the bag was crushed into a soggy mush.
VisualShows a soft object that has been crushed and become watery, losing its shape.
汗でシャツがぐじゃぐじゃだ。
あせ で シャツ が ぐじゃぐじゃ だ。
My shirt is horribly soaking wet with sweat.
LiteralDescribes clothes that are heavily wet to the point of being sticky and uncomfortable.
終わったことをいつまでもぐじゃぐじゃ言うな。
おわった こと を いつ まで も ぐじゃぐじゃ いう な。
Stop complaining incessantly about things that are already over.
FigurativeUsed to scold someone who is being whiny and won't let an issue go.
彼は自分のミスなのに、ぐじゃぐじゃと言い訳をしている。
かれ は じぶん の ミス な のに、 ぐじゃぐじゃ と いいわけ を している。
Even though it was his own mistake, he keeps making endless excuses.
FigurativeHighlights speech that is long, annoying, and unhelpful.
Similar Words
ぐしゃぐしゃ
gushagusha
Completely soaked, severely crushed out of shape, or thoroughly messy and disorganized. Shares similar sounds and meanings, but ぐしゃぐしゃ leans more toward crumpled or crushed before being wet.
びしょびしょ
bishobisho
Bishobisho describes a state of being completely soaked or thoroughly drenched. Similar for describing extreme wetness, but びしょびしょ does not imply losing shape.
ごちゃごちゃ
gochagocha
A state of being messy, chaotic, or mixed up. Similar in describing complaining or confusing speech, but without the wet nuance.
つべこべ
tsubekobe
Tsubekobe describes the annoying act of complaining, making petty excuses, or talking back, especially to avoid doing something.
Questions
Is ぐじゃぐじゃ used only for wet things?
Not always. While its literal meaning describes wet, mushy things, it is also commonly used to describe someone complaining or making petty excuses incessantly.
What is the difference between ぐじゃぐじゃ and びしょびしょ?
びしょびしょ means completely soaked but the object remains intact. ぐじゃぐじゃ means soaked to the point where it loses its shape or becomes mushy.
Is it polite to say someone is talking ぐじゃぐじゃ?
No, it is quite negative and implies the person is being annoying, whiny, or making petty excuses.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2453890
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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