Entry
カスカス
kasukasu
Describes something physically dried out and juiceless, or a figurative state of barely managing due to scarce resources like time or money.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
カスカス is a versatile word with two main usages. Physically, it describes things that have completely lost their moisture, juice, or essential substance, such as dried-out fruit, stale bread, or a hoarse voice. Metaphorically, it expresses extreme scarcity, meaning 'barely' or 'narrowly managing', often used when time, money, or resources are almost entirely depleted.
- Physically dried out, losing inner moisture.
- Barely scraping by due to extreme scarcity.
Sense Map
Dried Out
A state where moisture or essential substance has been lost, leaving something tasteless or dysfunctional.
声がカスカスだ。
Barely Managing
An extreme shortage of resources (like money or time) where one is just barely getting by.
時間がカスカスだ。
Usage Note
How to Use
カスカスになる
To become completely dried out or to reach a state of having barely enough.
カスカスだ
To be currently dried out or scraping by with meager resources.
カスカスの + [Noun]
Modifies a noun to indicate it is juiceless or devoid of substance.
How to Use
Common Phrases
声がカスカス
Hoarse or raspy voice
貯金がカスカス
Scraping the bottom of one's savings
中身がカスカス
Lacking substance inside
カスカスになる
To become completely dried out
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Food | negative | Implies that a fruit or vegetable has lost its internal moisture, making it fibrous and unpleasant. |
| Voice | negative | Describes a voice that is failing, raspy, or completely hoarse due to a cold or strain. |
| Finances/Time | negative | Describes a stressful situation where one is down to their last penny or final minutes. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぱさぱさ ぱさぱさ / similar | Used to describe a dry, crumbly texture in food or hair lacking natural oils. | パサパサ focuses on the unpleasant dry feeling in the mouth or to the touch, whereas カスカス focuses on the loss of internal juices from something that should be wet. | パサパサの髪 |
かつかつ かつかつ / similar | Used exclusively when resources (money or time) are extremely tight. | カツカツ is dedicated solely to the scarcity of abstract resources, never applying to physical dryness. | カツカツの生活 |
かさかさ かさかさ / similar | Used for dry, rough surfaces, like chapped skin or dry leaves that rustle. | カサカサ focuses on surface dryness and friction, while カスカス signifies a total loss of internal moisture or substance. | 肌がカサカサ |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using カスカス to describe having dry skin in the winter.
For dry skin, use カサカサ (kasakasa). カスカス applies to things that have lost their internal juice, like a dried-up orange or a hoarse voice.
Thinking カスカス is a formal way to say 'barely'.
It is a highly colloquial term. In formal writing or polite speech, you should use expressions like '辛うじて' (karoujite) instead.
Examples
Examples
風邪を引いて、声がカスカスになってしまった。
かぜをひいて、こえがカスカスになってしまった。
I caught a cold and my voice became completely hoarse.
LiteralDescribes the vocal cords being dry and failing.
この古いみかんは、中身がカスカスだ。
このふるいみかんは、なかみがカスカスだ。
This old mandarin orange is completely dried out inside.
LiteralDescribes fruit that has lost its juice.
今月は使いすぎて、財布の中身がカスカスだ。
こんげつはつかいすぎて、さいふのなかみがカスカスだ。
I spent too much this month, so the inside of my wallet is completely bare.
FigurativeFiguratively means running out of money.
締め切りまで時間がカスカスで、休む暇もない。
しめきりまでじかんがカスカスで、やすむひまもない。
Time is running extremely tight before the deadline; there is no time to rest.
FigurativeDescribes critical and scarce time.
あの映画は映像が綺麗だが、ストーリーはカスカスだった。
あのえいがはえいぞうがきれいだが、ストーリーはカスカスだった。
That movie had beautiful visuals, but the story was completely devoid of substance.
FigurativeUsed for content that lacks depth.
Similar Words
カツカツ
katsukatsu
Katsukatsu means living in severe financial constraint or achieving something with an extremely thin margin. Both mean barely managing, but カツカツ is strictly for abstract resources like money/time.
パサパサ
pasapasa
Describes the state of lacking moisture or natural oils, resulting in an unpleasantly dry or coarse texture. Both mean dry, but パサパサ is for crumbly or starchy dryness (like bread).
かさかさ
kasakasa
かさかさ (kasakasa) is a Japanese onomatopoeia used to describe the light rustling sound of dry objects like leaves or paper, as well as the physical state of being dry and rough, such as dry skin. Both mean dry, but カサカサ is for rough surfaces or dry skin.
Questions
How is カスカス different from パサパサ when talking about food?
While both mean dry, パサパサ is used for starchy foods that crumble (like a plain muffin). カスカス is used for produce that has lost its internal juices, turning into a dry husk (like an old lemon).
Can I use カスカス for being busy?
You can use it to say you have 'barely any time left' (時間がカスカス), but you cannot use it as a direct synonym for the feeling of being busy.
Is it rude to use this word?
It's a casual word rather than inherently rude. However, using it to describe someone's cooking would definitely be seen as an insult.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2199330
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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