Entry
ゾロリ
zorori
Describes people gathered together in a group, or wearing long, trailing, and sloppy clothing.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word has two main nuances: describing a group of people coming together or lining up in a sweeping manner, and describing clothing that is overly long, trailing, loose, and often inappropriately sloppy for an occasion.
- Gathered or lined up
- Sloppy, trailing clothing
Sense Map
Gathered / Lined Up
Used when a group of people or things comes together, appears, or moves in a lump.
人がゾロリと出てきた。
Trailing / Sloppy Clothes
Used for clothes that drag on the floor, are oversized, loose, or look untidy.
ゾロリとした服を着る。
Usage Note
How to Use
ゾロリと + verb
Modifies a verb to describe how people gather or how someone wears trailing clothes.
ゾロリとした + noun
Acts as an adjective to describe an untidy, trailing outfit or appearance.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ゾロリと出てくる
to come out all together
ゾロリとした服
sloppy, trailing clothing
ゾロリと並ぶ
to line up all together
裾をゾロリと
trailing the hem (of a garment)
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Negative | Describes an outfit that is loose, dragging, untidy, or inappropriate for formal settings. |
| Crowds | Neutral | Focuses on the visual of a group moving or gathering all together. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ずらり ずらり / similar | Use ずらり for things or people lined up very neatly in a row. | Unlike ゾロリ, ずらり cannot be used for sloppy clothing, and it emphasizes tidiness. | 本がずらりと並ぶ。 |
ぞろっと ぞろっと / similar | Use ぞろっと as a close synonym for gathering in a lump or wearing loose clothes. | They are nearly interchangeable, but ゾロリ often emphasizes the dragging/trailing visual of clothes slightly more. | 人がぞろっと集まる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ゾロリ to describe items perfectly lined up on a store shelf.
Use ずらり (zurari) instead for perfectly neat rows of objects.
Thinking ゾロリ is a compliment for elegant long dresses.
It often implies the clothes are too long, sloppy, or inappropriately relaxed.
Examples
Examples
大勢の人がゾロリと出てきた。
おおぜいの ひとが ゾロリと でてきた。
A large number of people came out all together.
VisualDescribes a large group of people appearing simultaneously.
彼はいつもゾロリとした服を着ている。
かれは いつも ゾロリとした ふくを きている。
He is always wearing loose, sloppy clothes.
VisualFocuses on clothes that look oversized and untidy.
着物の裾をゾロリと引きずって歩く。
きものの すそを ゾロリと ひきずって あるく。
Walking while dragging the trailing hem of the kimono.
VisualA classic usage for overly long fabric touching the ground.
そんなゾロリとした格好でパーティーに行かないで。
そんな ゾロリとした かっこうで パーティーに いかないで。
Don't go to the party in such a sloppy outfit.
FigurativeShows a negative impression because the clothing is inappropriate for a formal event.
家族がゾロリと揃って出かける。
かぞくが ゾロリと そろって でかける。
The whole family goes out all together.
LiteralFocuses on the movement of the group as a whole.
Similar Words
ぞろっと
zorotto
Very similar to zorori, often used for groups gathering together.
Questions
Can I use ゾロリ to praise someone's fashion?
No, it typically describes an outfit that is sloppy, dragging, or inappropriately relaxed.
What is the difference between ゾロリ (zorori) and ずらり (zurari)?
ずらり focuses on a neat, orderly row. ゾロリ focuses on a gathered group or has an entirely different meaning of sloppy, trailing clothes.
Is this word only used for Japanese kimonos?
No. While historically used for dragging kimono hems, today it can be used for overly long dresses or oversized, sloppy modern clothes.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2173910
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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