Entry
ひょろひょろ
hyorohyoro
Describes moving unsteadily due to physical weakness, or having a tall, thin, and frail physical appearance.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word carries two main nuances. First, it describes an unsteady, tottering walk resulting from exhaustion, age, or illness, where the legs lack strength. Second, it describes a lanky, spindly, or frail appearance, often applied to thin, weak people or poorly nourished plants.
- Tottering or staggering movements
- Lanky and spindly appearance
Sense Map
Unsteady Movement
Walking or standing in a tottering, staggering manner due to a lack of physical strength.
ひょろひょろと歩く
Frail Appearance
A lanky, spindly body type or plant structure that has grown tall but lacks bulk, muscle, or sturdiness.
ひょろひょろの苗
Usage Note
How to Use
ひょろひょろと + verb
Acts as an adverb modifying an action, such as walking totteringly.
ひょろひょろする
Used as a verb to indicate that one's legs or body feel weak and unsteady.
ひょろひょろしている
Describes the ongoing state of being lanky, spindly, or physically weak.
ひょろひょろな + noun
Modifies a noun to describe a spindly object, frail person, or weak plant.
ひょろひょろの + noun
Modifies a noun to describe a spindly object, frail person, or weak plant.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ひょろひょろと立ち上がる
to stand up unsteadily
ひょろひょろ歩く
to walk with a stagger
足元がひょろひょろする
legs feel weak and unsteady
ひょろひょろとした体つき
a lanky and frail build
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Walking after an illness | neutral | Accurately conveys the lack of energy and weak steps of someone recovering from being bedridden. |
| Describing body shapes | negative | Implies a lack of muscle mass; often used for tall, gangly teenagers or very frail individuals. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ふらふら ふらふら / nearby | Used for dizziness, lightheadedness, or wandering aimlessly. | While furafura focuses on a loss of balance or dizziness in the head, hyorohyoro focuses on a lack of physical muscular strength in the legs. | 熱でふらふらする。 |
すらり すらり / contrast | Used to describe a beautifully slender and well-proportioned figure. | Surari is a positive compliment for being slim and attractive, whereas hyorohyoro is negative, implying someone is too skinny and frail. | すらりとした足。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using this word to compliment someone on their weight loss or slim figure.
Use surari or suratto instead. Hyorohyoro means they look unhealthily skinny or frail.
Using it for dizziness caused by standing up too fast.
Dizziness is better described with furafura or kurakura.
Examples
Examples
病み上がりで、ひょろひょろと歩いている。
やみあがりで、ひょろひょろとあるいている。
Recovering from an illness, they are walking totteringly.
LiteralShows weak, unenergetic steps due to a physical condition that hasn't fully recovered.
庭にひょろひょろとした雑草が生えている。
にわにひょろひょろとしたざっそうがはえている。
Spindly weeds are growing in the garden.
VisualDescribes plants that have grown long but have weak stems.
彼は背が高くてひょろひょろしている。
かれはせがたかくてひょろひょろしている。
He is tall and lanky.
VisualUsed for a tall posture that is thin and appears lacking in muscle.
疲労のあまり、足元がひょろひょろする。
ひろうのあまり、あしもとがひょろひょろする。
Due to extreme fatigue, my steps are unsteady.
LiteralFocuses on the physical sensation where the legs cannot support body weight.
ひょろひょろの苗を植え替える。
ひょろひょろのなえをうえかえる。
Transplanting frail seedlings.
VisualDescribes the condition of young plants that have grown poorly and are vulnerable.
Similar Words
ひょろり
hyorori
Tall, thin, and often appearing frail, gangly, or spindly.
ふらふら
furafura
Describes a lack of stability, whether physically (feeling dizzy or walking unsteadily) or mentally (being indecisive or wandering aimlessly). For dizziness or loss of balance.
すらり
surari
Surari describes something or someone as long, slender, and well-proportioned, or movement as smooth and continuous. For a beautifully slender and proportionate body.
よぼよぼ
yoboyobo
Describes the physical frailty, unsteadiness, or tottering movement typically associated with old age.
Questions
Is hyorohyoro a bad word?
It is not a bad word, but it is unflattering when applied to a person's appearance because it means skinny and weak.
Can I use this for a wobbly table?
No, a wobbly table is better described with guragura or gatagata. Hyorohyoro is mostly for living things like plants and humans.
What is the difference between hyorohyoro and furafura?
Furafura is about losing your balance or being dizzy. Hyorohyoro is about simply not having the physical strength to hold yourself up straight.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1010660
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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