Entry
ぐんにゃり
gunnyari
Describes something that has lost its firmness and become limp, or a person who has completely lost their energy.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A mimetic word that depicts a state where something previously firm or stiff has lost its shape and become soft, drooping, or limp. Metaphorically, it is often used to describe a person who is entirely drained of physical or mental energy, leaving them listless and exhausted.
- Losing physical firmness or shape
- Losing physical or mental energy
Sense Map
Physical Limpness
Used when plants, objects, or body parts lose their stiffness, droop, or bend due to heat or loss of tension.
花がぐんにゃり曲がる。
Exhaustion & Lethargy
Used when a person completely loses their energy, motivation, or strength, often slumping in exhaustion.
疲れてぐんにゃりする。
Usage Note
How to Use
ぐんにゃりする
Used as a verb to indicate the state of losing shape or energy.
ぐんにゃりと + verb
Functions as an adverb, describing how something bends or droops limply.
ぐんにゃりした + noun
Modifies a noun, describing a softened object or an exhausted person.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぐんにゃりと曲がる
bend limply
ぐんにゃりする
become exhausted/limp
ぐんにゃりと折れる
break/fold limply
ぐんにゃりした体
limp body
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Describing plants or objects | negative | Implies they are drooping, wilting, or melting in an undesirable way, losing their proper shape. |
| Describing people | negative | Shows they are completely drained of energy, often due to extreme fatigue, intense heat, or severe disappointment. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぐにゃぐにゃ ぐにゃぐにゃ / similar | When something is highly flexible, soft, and can be bent easily in any direction. | ぐんにゃり focuses on the loss of previous firmness or energy, while ぐにゃぐにゃ simply describes the state of being extremely soft and bendable. | ぐにゃぐにゃ曲がる |
しんなり しんなり / contrast | When vegetables or plants become softly pliable after being cooked, boiled, or slightly wilted. | しんなり has a neutral or positive nuance of becoming supple, whereas ぐんにゃり implies a complete, often negative, loss of shape or vitality. | ゆでてしんなりしたキャベツ |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe something naturally soft like a pillow or a cloud.
It describes something that *lost* its firmness, not something inherently soft. For pillows, use ふわふわ (fuwafuwa).
Using it to simply mean 'relaxed' or 'sleepy'.
It indicates a complete depletion of energy or exhaustion, not a comfortable relaxed state. It has a more negative, draining nuance.
Examples
Examples
暑さで庭の植物がぐんにゃりしている。
あつさで にわの しょくぶつが ぐんにゃり している。
The plants in the garden are wilting limply from the heat.
VisualUsed for plants that have lost their water content and uprightness.
熱でプラスチックの棒がぐんにゃりと曲がった。
ねつで プラスチックの ぼうが ぐんにゃりと まがった。
The plastic stick bent limply due to the heat.
VisualFocuses on a hard object losing its stiffness.
マラソンを完走した後、彼はベンチでぐんにゃりした。
マラソンを かんそうした あと、かれは ベンチで ぐんにゃり した。
After finishing the marathon, he slumped limply on the bench.
LiteralShows the complete loss of all physical strength.
面接に落ちて、彼女はすっかりぐんにゃりしている。
めんせつに おちて、かのじょは すっかり ぐんにゃり している。
After failing the interview, she is completely drained of all energy.
FigurativeUsed figuratively for severe disappointment and loss of motivation.
眠ってしまった子供のぐんにゃりした体を抱き上げた。
ねむってしまった こどもの ぐんにゃりした からだを だきあげた。
I picked up the limp body of the sleeping child.
LiteralDescribes a body completely relaxed with no muscle tension.
Similar Words
しんなり
shinnari
Unlike a negative loss of shape, this means softening in a good, pliable way (like vegetables).
ぐにゃぐにゃ
gunyagunya
The state of being extremely soft, limp, or easily bent out of shape, like soft rubber or weak limbs. Describes the property of being extremely flexible or soft.
ぐしゃぐしゃ
gushagusha
Completely soaked, severely crushed out of shape, or thoroughly messy and disorganized.
Questions
Can I use ぐんにゃり for a soft bed?
No, it describes losing shape or energy. For a soft bed, use ふかふか (fukafuka) or ふわふわ (fuwafuwa).
Is ぐんにゃり the same as 疲れた (tsukareta)?
It's more intense and visual. It means being so exhausted that you physically slump or lose all your energy, not just feeling tired.
Can it be used for food?
Generally no, unless food has completely melted or lost its shape in an undesirable way. For vegetables softening pleasantly, use しんなり (shinnari).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1631870
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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