Entry
じゅくじゅく
jukujuku
Describes a state of being overly wet, oozing, or mushy due to excess moisture.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
"Jukujuku" is a mimetic word (gitaigo) describing something saturated with water or liquid. It is frequently used for infected, oozing wounds, overripe mushy fruit, or waterlogged muddy soil, usually carrying a slightly unpleasant or messy nuance.
- Oozing or infected wounds
- Waterlogged muddy soil
- Overripe and mushy fruit
Sense Map
Oozing wounds
Describes a wound that is wet, oozing, or infected and has not dried yet.
傷がじゅくじゅくする。
Waterlogged or mushy
Describes overly ripe and mushy fruit, or muddy soil that is heavily waterlogged.
じゅくじゅくに熟れた柿。
Usage Note
How to Use
じゅくじゅくする
Describes an area (such as a wound) being continuously wet and oozing liquid.
じゅくじゅくに + verb
Used to show that something has changed into an extremely wet, damp, or mushy state.
How to Use
Common Phrases
傷がじゅくじゅくする
a wound oozes
じゅくじゅくの土
waterlogged soil
じゅくじゅくに熟れる
to become overripe and mushy
じゅくじゅくと血がにじむ
blood oozes out heavily
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Physical wounds | negative | Implies that the wound is infected, unhealed, and oozing pus or other fluids. |
| Fruits | negative | Means the fruit is past its prime, structurally mushy, and often unpleasant to eat. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
しめじめ しめじめ / similar | Used for damp, humid weather or a gloomy atmosphere. | Not used for objects that are physically oozing or visibly breaking down from liquid like jukujuku. | しめじめした天気 |
じんわり じんわり / similar | Used for liquid (like sweat) seeping out slowly and gradually. | Focuses on the slow progression, not on an overly saturated, messy, or rotting state. | 汗がじんわりと出る |
じっとり じっとり / similar | Used for an uncomfortable damp or sticky feeling, often on the skin from sweat. | Leans more toward a wet, sticky surface rather than pooling or oozing liquids. | じっとりと汗ばむ |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using this word to praise delicious soup or fresh, juicy fruit.
This word has a messy or rotting nuance. For fresh, juicy fruit, use みずみずしい (mizumizushii).
Using jukujuku to describe swimming in a pool or a clean puddle.
It is used for mushy, muddy, or oozing states, not for clean, clear bodies of water.
Examples
Examples
転んだ時の傷がまだじゅくじゅくしている。
ころんだときのきずがまだじゅくじゅくしている。
The wound from falling is still oozing.
VisualDescribes a wound that has not dried and is still releasing liquid.
雨のせいでグラウンドの土がじゅくじゅくだ。
あめのせいでグラウンドのつちがじゅくじゅくだ。
Because of the rain, the soil on the playground is waterlogged.
VisualShows the state of soil that has absorbed too much water, becoming mushy.
この桃はじゅくじゅくに熟れている。
このももはじゅくじゅくにうれている。
This peach is overripe and mushy.
VisualExplains the texture of fruit that is extremely soft from being overripe.
傷口からじゅくじゅくと血がにじみ出た。
きずぐちからじゅくじゅくとちがにじみでた。
Blood oozed heavily out of the wound.
VisualFocuses on how liquid or blood continuously flows out of the wound.
湿気で畳がじゅくじゅくに湿ってしまった。
しっけでたたみがじゅくじゅくにしめってしまった。
The tatami mats have become extremely damp due to the humidity.
LiteralShows that a solid object has absorbed far too much water.
Similar Words
しめじめ
shimejime
Describes an unpleasantly damp and humid physical state, or a gloomy and cheerless mood. Focuses on damp air or weather, not on objects breaking down or oozing.
じんわり
jinwari
じんわり describes something slowly and gently spreading, permeating, or being felt from within. Focuses on liquid seeping out slowly without any rotten or messy connotation.
じっとり
jittori
Jittori means being unpleasantly damp, clammy, or sticky, especially from sweat or humidity. Describes sticky dampness on the skin, not overly watery conditions.
Questions
Can I use jukujuku for a delicious soup?
No, it implies a messy, mushy, or oozing state, so it would sound very unappetizing.
What is the difference between jukujuku and shimejime?
Shimejime describes humid air or a gloomy mood, whereas jukujuku describes physical objects that are heavily saturated, mushy, or oozing.
Does this word have a negative connotation?
Yes, it generally carries an unpleasant nuance of being dirty, infected, or beginning to rot.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2787360
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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