Entry
ずんぐり
zunguri
ずんぐり describes a physical shape that is disproportionately short and thick or wide.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word illustrates a stout or stocky appearance. It is commonly used for the body types of humans and animals, as well as inanimate objects that lack height but have considerable width, such as stubby fingers, thick tree trunks, or wide bottles.
- stocky body
- short and thick objects
Sense Map
Stocky Bodies
Used for people or animals with a short, heavy, and thickset build.
ずんぐりした体
Thick Objects
Describes inanimate objects that are conspicuously short and wide.
ずんぐりとした木
Usage Note
How to Use
ずんぐりしている
Describes the current state of someone or something being stocky.
ずんぐりした + noun
Directly modifies a noun to mean a stout object or body.
ずんぐりとした + noun
Also modifies a noun, but with to adding a slightly more descriptive, literary feel.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ずんぐりした体
stocky body
ずんぐりとした木
short, thick tree
ずんぐりした指
stubby fingers
ずんぐりした瓶
short, wide bottle
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Human Body Shape | neutral | Can be mildly offensive if the person is sensitive about being short and heavy. |
| Animals | positive | Often implies a cute, endearing chunkiness in pets with short legs. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ずんぐりむっくり ずんぐりむっくり / similar | When you want to strongly emphasize a very short, round, and stout appearance. | It is a reduplicated, more expressive version with a slightly more comical or extreme nuance. | ずんぐりむっくりした犬 |
でっぷり でっぷり / nearby | When focusing heavily on being fat, especially carrying a lot of weight in the belly. | The comparison term emphasizes fatness and a heavy build, whereas the main word focuses on the proportion of being short and thick. | でっぷり太った人 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Treating it as an i adjective.
It must be paired with suru, making forms like ずんぐりしている or ずんぐりした.
Using it to compliment a person's cute chub.
It highlights being stubby or stout. For chubby and cute, ぽっちゃり is much more appropriate.
Examples
Examples
彼は背が低く、ずんぐりしている。
かれはせがひくく、ずんぐりしている。
He is short and stocky.
VisualDescribing a stocky human body shape.
庭にずんぐりとした木がある。
にわにずんぐりとしたきがある。
There is a short, thick tree in the garden.
VisualUsed for a tree trunk that is short and thick.
その犬はずんぐりした体をしている。
そのいぬはずんぐりしたからだをしている。
That dog has a stocky body.
VisualOften used for short-legged, stocky dogs.
彼は自分のずんぐりした指が気になっている。
かれはじぶんのずんぐりしたゆびがきになっている。
He is self-conscious about his stubby fingers.
VisualUsed for specific body parts that look thick and short.
テーブルにずんぐりとした形の瓶が置いてある。
テーブルにずんぐりとしたかたちのびんがおいてある。
A short, wide-shaped bottle is placed on the table.
VisualInanimate objects like bottles can also be described with this word if they are short and wide.
Similar Words
ずんぐりむっくり
zungurimukkuri
ずんぐりむっくり describes a body shape or object that is noticeably short, thick, and stout. A more expressive, comical version for very short and round shapes.
でっぷり
deppuri
Deppuri describes a figure or body that looks noticeably fat, portly, or stout due to carrying a lot of soft fat. Focuses on excess fat, especially around the belly.
Questions
Can I use it for abstract concepts like a short meeting?
No, it exclusively describes physical, tangible shapes and forms.
What is the difference with its longer variant?
The longer form is simply a more emphatic, vivid version of the same word, often sounding a bit more comical.
Is it okay to describe a baby with this word?
You can, but other words like ぽっちゃり meaning plump or chubby are far more common and endearing for babies.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2121350
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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