Entry
ズボズボ
zubozubo
Describes the heavy, repeated action of plunging deeply into something soft and yielding, like walking through thick mud or deep snow.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
ズボズボ depicts the state of repeatedly sinking, plunging, or piercing deeply into a soft substance that offers some resistance, such as mud, swamps, or heavy snow. It conveys a sense of heaviness and the physical effort involved, often evoking the squelching sound of pulling a foot or object out of the yielding material.
- Plunging deeply
- Sinking into mud/snow
- Piercing repeatedly
Sense Map
Sinking into mud or snow
Used when walking through soft, yielding terrain where your feet repeatedly sink deeply with each step.
泥沼にズボズボと沈む。
Piercing deeply
Used when objects like stakes, needles, or posts are driven deeply and repeatedly into a soft surface.
杭がズボズボと刺さる。
Usage Note
How to Use
ズボズボ(と) + verb (e.g., 沈む, 埋まる)
Used with verbs indicating downward or inward movement, such as 沈む (shizumu - to sink) or 埋まる (umaru - to be buried).
ズボズボ + verb (e.g., 歩く, 刺さる)
Used directly with active verbs like 歩く (aruku - to walk) or 刺さる (sasaru - to pierce) to describe an action happening repeatedly.
How to Use
Common Phrases
泥にズボズボと沈む
sink deeply into the mud
雪道をズボズボ歩く
trudge plunging through a snowy road
ズボズボと刺さる
pierce deeply and repeatedly
足がズボズボ埋まる
feet repeatedly sink deeply
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Walking in difficult terrain (mud/snow) | negative | Emphasizes the physical struggle and the heaviness of the steps as feet keep plunging in. |
| Objects piercing (stakes, needles) | neutral | Used objectively to describe items plunging deeply and repeatedly into yielding material. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ずぶずぶ ずぶずぶ / similar | When something sinks deeply into liquid/mud, or figuratively when someone is deeply involved in a bad situation (e.g., debt, corruption). | ズボズボ lacks the figurative meaning of 'being deeply involved in a shady relationship/debt' and focuses strictly on repeated physical plunging with resistance. | 泥沼にズブズブと沈む |
ずぼっと ずぼっと / similar | When the sinking or plunging action happens only once, deeply and suddenly. | ズボズボ is for repeated occurrences (like taking multiple steps), whereas ズボッと is for a single brief incident. | 穴にズボッと足がはまる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for objects sinking in clear water (like a pool or ocean).
ズボズボ implies solid/semi-solid resistance like mud or snow. For water, use ぶくぶく (bukubuku) or ずぶずぶ (zubuzubu).
Using it for a single, sudden slip into a hole.
ズボズボ is for repeated or continuous action. For a single sudden action, use ズボッと (zubotto).
Examples
Examples
泥沼に足がズボズボと沈んでいく。
どろぬまにあしがズボズボとしずんでいく。
My feet keep sinking deeply into the muddy swamp.
VisualDepicts taking steps that sink repeatedly into mud.
大雪が降ったので、雪道をズボズボ歩いた。
おおゆきがふったので、ゆきみちをズボズボあるいた。
Because it snowed heavily, I trudged through the snowy road, my feet plunging in with every step.
VisualPortrays the difficulty of walking through thick snow.
柔らかい地面に杭がズボズボと刺さる。
やわらかいじめんにくいがズボズボとささる。
The stakes pierce deeply and repeatedly into the soft ground.
VisualShows stakes going into soft ground deeply and repeatedly.
ぬかるみでタイヤがズボズボ埋まって動けない。
ぬかるみでタイヤがズボズボうまってうごけない。
The tires are sinking deep into the mud and cannot move.
VisualDescribes tires repeatedly getting stuck deep in a muddy road.
砂浜を歩くと、靴がズボズボはまって歩きにくい。
すなはまをあるくと、くつがズボズボはまってあるきにくい。
When walking on the sandy beach, my shoes plunge deeply into the sand, making it hard to walk.
VisualIllustrates shoes plunging into sand with every step.
Similar Words
ズブズブ
zubuzubu
Zubuzubu describes sinking deeply into something soft or wet, becoming thoroughly soaked, or being heavily involved in a corrupt relationship. Similar sound, but ズブズブ can also mean 'deeply involved in a bad situation'.
ズボッと
zubotto
Describes the sudden action or sound of plunging deep into a tight space, sinking into mud, or popping out of a hole. A variation used for a sudden action that happens only once, not repeatedly.
ずぶり
zuburi
This word describes a single forceful action of sinking, stabbing, or plunging deeply into a yielding surface.
ズブッと
zubutto
ズブッと describes a sudden, forceful, and deep plunging or stabbing motion into a soft, yielding, or wet substance like mud or flesh.
Questions
Can I use ズボズボ for someone sinking in a swimming pool?
No, ズボズボ implies sinking into something soft but resistant, like mud, snow, or sand. For water, use words like ぶくぶく (bukubuku) or ずぶずぶ (zubuzubu).
What is the difference between ズボズボ and ズボッと?
ズボズボ is used for repeated actions or a continuous state, such as taking multiple steps in deep snow. ズボッと describes a single, sudden action, like accidentally stepping into a hole once.
Is ズボズボ a positive or negative word?
It is generally neutral when describing physical phenomena (like stakes going into the ground), but it often carries a negative tone when referring to walking, as it implies physical struggle and difficulty.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2859603
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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