Entry
よぼよぼ
yoboyobo
Describes the physical frailty, unsteadiness, or tottering movement typically associated with old age.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A mimetic word that depicts a state of extreme physical weakness and frailty, usually due to advanced age. It often describes an elderly person or an older animal walking unsteadily with weak, shaky steps.
- physical frailty from old age
- tottering gait
Sense Map
Old Age & Frailty
The state of being physically weak, decrepit, or feeble due to aging.
すっかりよぼよぼになる
Tottering Gait
Walking with unsteady, shaky, and weak steps associated with weak legs.
よぼよぼと歩く
Usage Note
How to Use
よぼよぼの + noun
Used to modify a noun, describing an elderly person or animal as frail.
よぼよぼな + noun
Similar to 'no + noun', functions as a na-adjective to describe someone as decrepit.
よぼよぼになる
Means 'to become frail' or 'to grow decrepit with age'.
よぼよぼと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action (usually walking) is done totteringly.
よぼよぼする
Used as a verb to indicate being in a state of senility or frailty.
How to Use
Common Phrases
よぼよぼの老人
frail old person
よぼよぼ歩く
to walk totteringly
よぼよぼになる
to become decrepit
よぼよぼのお爺さん
doddering old man
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Describing elderly people | negative/pitiful | Implies a distinct loss of vitality. It can be offensive if used to someone's face as it emphasizes their decrepitude. |
| Describing old pets | sympathetic | Used affectionately but sadly to describe a beloved pet that has grown old and physically weak. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
よろよろ よろよろ / similar | When someone staggers or loses their balance temporarily, regardless of their age (e.g., from exhaustion or carrying something heavy). | よぼよぼ is chronic weakness stemming from old age; よろよろ is a temporary stagger. | 疲れてよろよろ歩く |
ふらふら ふらふら / similar | When someone is dizzy, lightheaded, or wandering unsteadily due to a fever or exhaustion. | ふらふら implies unsteadiness caused by internal dizziness or sickness, not necessarily physical decay from aging. | 熱でふらふらする |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using よぼよぼ to describe wobbly inanimate objects, like a broken chair or table.
Use グラグラ (guragura) for objects. よぼよぼ is strictly reserved for living beings.
Using it to describe a young person who is exhausted and staggering after a marathon.
Use ヘトヘト (hetoheto) for exhaustion or よろよろ (yoroyoro) for staggering. よぼよぼ implies permanent aging.
Examples
Examples
お爺さんはよぼよぼと歩いている。
おじいさんは[よぼよぼ]とあるいている。
The old man is walking totteringly.
VisualDepicts the slow, unsteady gait characteristic of the elderly.
うちの犬も年をとって、すっかりよぼよぼになった。
うちのいぬもとしをとって、すっかり[よぼよぼ]になった。
Our dog has also gotten old and become completely frail.
LiteralAlso commonly used for aging pets losing their vitality.
よぼよぼの老人がベンチに座っている。
[よぼよぼ]のろうじんがベンチにすわっている。
A frail old man is sitting on the bench.
VisualFunctions as a modifier describing the visible frailty of the subject.
よぼよぼなお爺さんが杖をついて歩いている。
[よぼよぼ]なおじいさんがつえをついてあるいている。
A decrepit old man is walking with a cane.
VisualShows the usage of the word acting as a na-adjective.
いつか自分もよぼよぼになる日が来る。
いつかじぶんも[よぼよぼ]になるひがくる。
The day will come when I too will become frail and decrepit.
LiteralA common way to reflect on the inevitability of aging.
Similar Words
よろよろ
yoroyoro
Moving unsteadily, tottering, or staggering due to physical weakness, fatigue, or a loss of balance. Both mean unsteady, but よろよろ is a temporary loss of balance, while よぼよぼ is chronic weakness from old age.
ふらふら
furafura
Describes a lack of stability, whether physically (feeling dizzy or walking unsteadily) or mentally (being indecisive or wandering aimlessly). ふらふら is used for unsteadiness due to dizziness or illness, not permanent aging.
Questions
Is よぼよぼ an insult?
It is a descriptive word, but because it highlights physical decrepitude, saying it directly to an older person is very rude. It is safe to use in objective third-person descriptions.
Can I use よぼよぼ for young people?
Generally, no. It specifically describes age-related frailty. For temporary weakness in young people, use words like ふらふら or ヘトヘト.
What is the difference between よぼよぼ and よろよろ?
よぼよぼ implies a chronic, permanent weakness tied to old age. よろよろ is a temporary stagger, like when tripping over a rock or walking after a long run.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1013180
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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