Entry
グニュッと
gunyutto
Describes the sudden action or sensation of squeezing, squishing, or deforming something soft, yielding, and often gooey.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word expresses the tactile sensation or sound produced when a soft, easily deformed object (like clay, mud, slime, or an overripe fruit) is pressed, squeezed, or stepped on with a single, forceful motion. The '-tto' (と) suffix emphasizes that this is a momentary, decisive action rather than a continuous state.
- squeezing something soft
- squishing something gooey
Sense Map
Squeezing soft objects
Used when squeezing or pressing a soft, pliable object like clay or slime.
粘土をグニュッと握る
Squishing yielding things
Used when a soft object is crushed or deformed by pressure, such as stepping in mud or squishing a soft fruit.
トマトがグニュッと潰れる
Usage Note
How to Use
グニュッと + verb (潰す, 握る, 押す)
Functions as an adverb describing the manner in which an action (squeezing, pressing, stepping) is performed on a soft object.
How to Use
Common Phrases
グニュッと潰す
to squish / to crush (something soft)
グニュッと握る
to squeeze (something yielding)
グニュッと押す
to press (something soft)
グニュッと踏む
to step on (something squishy)
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Clay / Slime | neutral | Very commonly used when playing with soft-textured toys. |
| Mud / Wet ground | neutral | Used when a foot sinks into or steps on something squishy on the ground. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぎゅっと ぎゅっと / contrast | Use for squeezing, holding, or pressing tightly and firmly, typically with solid objects or things that offer resistance. | Does not carry the wet, yielding, or squishy nuance of グニュッと. | 手をぎゅっと握る |
ぐちゃり ぐちゃり / nearby | Use for something being crushed in a messy, wet splat. | グチャリ is messier and wetter, while グニュッと focuses on the tactile deformation of a soft substance. | 虫がグチャリと潰れる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using グニュッと for holding someone's hand tightly.
Use ぎゅっと. Using グニュッと would imply the person's hand felt like soft clay and deformed when you squeezed it.
Describing spilling a thin liquid.
This word requires texture (like mud or slime), not pure liquid.
Examples
Examples
子供が粘土をグニュッと握って形を変えた。
こどもが ねんどを グニュッと にぎって かたちを かえた。
The child gave the clay a squish and changed its shape.
LiteralUsed for the sensation of squeezing a soft object like clay.
雨の日の翌日、公園の泥をグニュッと踏んづけてしまった。
あめの ひの よくじつ、こうえんの どろを グニュッと ふんづけて しまった。
The day after it rained, I accidentally stepped squishily into the park's mud.
VisualDescribes the sensation of a foot sinking into something wet and yielding.
鞄の中で熟したバナナがグニュッと潰れていた。
かばんの なかで じゅくした バナナが グニュッと つぶれていた。
A ripe banana got squished soft inside the bag.
VisualOften used for overripe fruit being crushed by pressure.
そのおもちゃのボタンは、グニュッと柔らかい感触がする。
その おもちゃの ボタンは、グニュッと やわらかい かんしょくが する。
The button on that toy has a soft, squishy feel to it.
LiteralExplains the sensation when a finger presses something squishy.
チューブの絵の具をグニュッと押し出した。
チューブの えのぐを グニュッと おしだした。
I squeezed the paint out of the tube with a single squish.
VisualUsed for the action of squeezing paste from a container.
Similar Words
ぎゅっと
gyutto
The act of applying firm, concentrated pressure when squeezing, gripping, or hugging something. Used for hard squeezing, not for squishy things.
グチャリ
guchari
グチャリ is an onomatopoeia for the heavy, wet sound of a soft object suddenly being crushed or hitting a surface. Crushing something into a messy, wet state.
Questions
Can グニュッと be used for food?
Yes, especially if the food has a very soft texture and is pressed or crushed (like a very ripe tomato or dough).
What is the difference between グニュッと and ぐにゅぐにゅ?
グニュッと (with -tto) emphasizes a single, momentary squeezing action, while ぐにゅぐにゅ describes a continuous state or repeated action where something feels squishy.
Does this word have a negative connotation?
Not inherently, but because it is often associated with stepping in mud or squishing bugs, it can sometimes feel slightly unpleasant depending on the context.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2837417
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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