Entry
ぐしゃぐしゃ
gushagusha
Completely soaked, severely crushed out of shape, or thoroughly messy and disorganized.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes a state where an object has completely lost its original shape, order, or dryness. It is used for items crumpled with force, paths muddy with slush, faces messy from intense crying, or minds overwhelmed with confusing thoughts.
- Crushed or smashed out of shape
- Soggy or ruined by moisture
- Mentally or physically chaotic
Sense Map
Crushed Shape
An object that has been forcibly crushed, crumpled, or smashed out of its original form (e.g., a crumpled letter or a wrecked car).
手紙をぐしゃぐしゃに丸める
Soggy & Slushy
Something that is thoroughly wet, soggy, or muddy to the point of losing its structure (e.g., slushy snow, a soaked book).
雪で道がぐしゃぐしゃだ
Chaotic Mind
A figurative state where thoughts, feelings, or situations are completely disorganized and confused.
頭の中がぐしゃぐしゃになる
Usage Note
How to Use
ぐしゃぐしゃになる
To become crushed, soggy, or chaotic.
ぐしゃぐしゃにする
To intentionally crumple, crush, or ruin the shape of something.
ぐしゃぐしゃな + Noun
Describes a noun that is in a crushed, sloppy, or messy state.
ぐしゃぐしゃに + Verb
Doing an action in a way that severely ruins or crumples something.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぐしゃぐしゃになる
to become crushed / to become soggy
ぐしゃぐしゃに丸める
to crumple up into a ball
顔がぐしゃぐしゃになる
face gets messy (from intense crying)
頭がぐしゃぐしゃ
mind is a total mess
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Objects (paper, cars) | Negative | Implies the object was severely smashed, crushed, or crumpled with force. |
| Ground/Snow | Negative | Describes muddy, slushy, and dirty conditions underfoot. |
| Emotions/Thoughts | Negative | Expresses an overwhelming inability to organize one's thoughts, resulting in mental chaos. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
びしょびしょ びしょびしょ / similar | Used when something (like clothes) is soaking wet or dripping with water. | Only focuses on the water content. The object doesn't necessarily lose its shape or get destroyed. | 服がびしょびしょだ。 |
くしゃくしゃ くしゃくしゃ / similar | Used for things that are wrinkled, creased, or mildly crumpled (like fabric or paper). | Less intense. It implies a loss of neatness, but not the total destructive crushing of ぐしゃぐしゃ. | シャツがくしゃくしゃだ。 |
ぐちゃぐちゃ ぐちゃぐちゃ / similar | Used for pulpy messes, mixed-up liquids, or highly chaotic situations. | More focused on a wet/slushy blend or a complete disarray of parts, whereas ぐしゃぐしゃ focuses on things being flattened/crushed by pressure. | 部屋がぐちゃぐちゃだ。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using this word for clothes that are just very wet after washing.
Use びしょびしょ (bishobisho) if the clothes are just wet but intact.
Using it for a shirt that is slightly unironed.
Use しわしわ (shiwashiwa) or くしゃくしゃ (kushakusha) for something that is merely wrinkled.
Examples
Examples
雨でノートがぐしゃぐしゃになってしまった。
あめでのーとがぐしゃぐしゃになってしまった。
My notebook got completely soaked and ruined by the rain.
VisualShows how the wetness caused the notebook pages to lose their flat shape.
怒って手紙をぐしゃぐしゃに丸めた。
おこっててがみをぐしゃぐしゃにまるめた。
I angrily crumpled the letter into a tight ball.
VisualA classic example of crushing an object out of its original shape.
大雪のせいで、道がぐしゃぐしゃだ。
おおゆきのせいで、みちがぐしゃぐしゃだ。
The roads are a slushy mess due to the heavy snow.
VisualDescribes melting snow mixed with dirt, creating a slushy state.
泣きすぎて、顔がぐしゃぐしゃになった。
なきすぎて、かおがぐしゃぐしゃになった。
My face became a mess from crying so much.
VisualA common idiom for a face covered in tears and lacking composure.
頭の中がぐしゃぐしゃで、うまく説明できない。
あたまのなかがぐしゃぐしゃで、うまくせつめいできない。
My head is so completely messed up that I can't explain it well.
FigurativeFigurative usage for a confused or panicked state of mind.
Similar Words
びしょびしょ
bishobisho
Bishobisho describes a state of being completely soaked or thoroughly drenched. Focuses only on being soaked, without the crushed or shape-ruined nuance.
くしゃくしゃ
kushakusha
A state of being crumpled, wrinkled, or messy, typically referring to surfaces like paper, clothes, or hair. Wrinkled or rumpled, but less destructive than gushagusha.
ぐちゃぐちゃ
guchagucha
Describes a state where something has lost its original shape or order due to being crushed, wet, or disorganized. Focuses more on pulpy messes or disordered mixtures rather than flattened crushing.
ビシャビシャ
bishabisha
Describes a state of being completely soaked, a slushy surface, or the sound of splashing water.
ぐっしょり
gusshori
Describes a state of being thoroughly and heavily soaked, usually describing clothes or hair saturated with liquid.
Questions
What is the difference between ぐしゃぐしゃ (gushagusha) and びしょびしょ (bishobisho)?
Bishobisho strictly means soaking wet. Gushagusha implies being so wet that the object's shape is ruined or sloppy, like a notebook dropped in a puddle.
Can I use ぐしゃぐしゃ for messy hair?
For bedhead or uncombed hair, ボサボサ (bosabosa) or くしゃくしゃ (kushakusha) is more natural. Gushagusha makes it sound like your hair is completely matted with mud or heavily ruined.
What does 顔がぐしゃぐしゃ (kao ga gushagusha) mean?
It means someone's face is a mess from crying uncontrollably, usually covered in tears and lacking composure.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2097580
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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