Entry
じゃりじゃり
jarijari
Describes a gritty texture or the crunchy sound of small, hard particles like sand or gravel.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
It is used to express the unpleasant sensation of biting into sand mixed in food, or the sound made when walking on fine gravel or broken glass. It can also describe the texture of coarse sugar crystals.
- Unpleasant gritty texture
- Sound of fine gravel
- Texture of coarse sugar
Sense Map
Gritty Texture
Used when feeling something sandy or gritty, often unpleasantly, like sand in food or shoes.
アサリを噛むとじゃりじゃりする。
Crunchy Sound
The sound produced when stepping on or crushing small hard particles like gravel on a path.
砂利道をじゃりじゃりと歩く。
Usage Note
How to Use
じゃりじゃり（と）する
Used as a verb to describe having a gritty feeling or making a crunching sound.
じゃりじゃりした + noun
Used to modify a noun, such as 'a gritty texture'.
じゃりじゃりだ
Used at the end of a sentence to state that something is entirely covered in or full of grit.
How to Use
Common Phrases
じゃりじゃりする
to feel gritty
じゃりじゃりした食感
a gritty texture (when eating)
靴の中がじゃりじゃりだ
the inside of the shoes is full of sand
じゃりじゃりと音を立てる
to make a crunching/grinding sound
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eating food | negative | Describes an unpleasant sensation when sand or dirt is mixed into food, such as poorly prepared clams. |
| Walking outdoors | neutral | Describes the standard sound and feeling of walking over small gravel or pebbles on a path. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ざらざら ざらざら / similar | Use when describing a generally rough, coarse, or uneven surface. | ザラザラ focuses on the physical condition of the surface (like sandpaper), while じゃりじゃり implies loose, hard particles that grind together. | ザラザラした壁 |
ざくざく ざくざく / similar | Use when describing a louder, deeper crunching sound, like walking on frost or larger gravel. | ザクザク implies larger pieces and a heavier crunch, whereas じゃりじゃり is for much finer, smaller particles like sand. | 砂利をザクザク歩く |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe a pleasant crispiness in food, like an apple or potato chip.
Use it only for an unpleasant gritty feeling in food (like sand in clams). For a pleasant crispy texture, use サクサク (sakusaku).
Using it for the sound of large objects breaking.
It specifically describes fine particles. For breaking wood or bones, use バキバキ (bakibaki).
Examples
Examples
アサリに砂が残っていて、噛むとじゃりじゃりする。
アサリに砂（すな）が残（のこ）っていて、噛（か）むとじゃりじゃりする。
There is sand left in the clams, so it feels gritty when you chew.
LiteralA common example of unintentionally eating sand.
靴の中に砂が入ってじゃりじゃりして歩きにくい。
靴（くつ）の中（なか）に砂（すな）が入（はい）ってじゃりじゃりして歩（ある）きにくい。
Sand got into my shoes, making them feel gritty and hard to walk in.
LiteralShows the physical sensation of hard particles against the skin.
砂利道をじゃりじゃりと音を立てて歩く。
砂利道（じゃりみち）をじゃりじゃりと音（おと）を立（た）てて歩（ある）く。
Walking with a crunching sound along the gravel road.
LiteralAn example of the sound produced by footsteps on small stones.
このクッキーは砂糖がじゃりじゃりした食感だ。
このクッキーは砂糖（さとう）がじゃりじゃりした食感（しょっかん）だ。
This cookie has a gritty sugar texture.
LiteralAn exception where this gritty texture (from sugar) is not necessarily negative.
床の上に落ちたガラスの破片をじゃりじゃりと踏む。
床（ゆか）の上（うえ）に落（お）ちたガラスの破片（はへん）をじゃりじゃりと踏（ふ）む。
Stepping with a crunching sound on the glass shards fallen on the floor.
LiteralCan be used for other small, hard objects besides stones, such as broken glass.
Similar Words
ザラザラ
zarazara
Describes a surface that feels rough to the touch, is covered in gritty particles like sand, or a voice that sounds raspy. Focuses more on a generally rough surface, rather than grinding sand particles.
ザクザク
zakuzaku
This word describes a heavy crunching sound like walking on gravel, the act of rough cutting, or a figurative abundance of money and treasure. A heavier, deeper crunching sound from larger pieces.
がりがり
garigari
This word describes a loud crunching or scratching sound, a very hard texture, or an unhealthily thin, bony body.
Questions
Can I use this for crunchy snacks?
No, じゃりじゃり implies a gritty, sandy texture which is usually unpleasant in food, with the exception of coarse sugar. For pleasant snacks, use サクサク.
Is this the same as a generally rough surface?
No, general roughness refers to a fixed surface. じゃりじゃり means there are loose, hard particles rubbing together, like sand in your shoes.
Is it used more for sound or feeling?
It is very common for both. It describes the feeling of grit in your mouth and the sound of stepping on gravel.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1005960
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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