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ぐったり

B1 adverb 8 min read

ぐったり

guttari

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips ぐったり in 30 Seconds

Explanation ぐったり in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 'guttari' as a very strong version of 'tired.' While you usually learn 'tsukareta' first, 'guttari' helps you describe how you look when you are very, very tired. Think of a dog lying on the floor in the summer because it is too hot to move. That dog is 'guttari.' You can use it with 'suru' (to do/to be). For example, 'Inu ga guttari shite iru' means 'The dog is tired and limp.' It's a fun word to say and easy to remember because it sounds a bit like 'good' (but it means the opposite of feeling good!). Just remember: use it when someone looks like they have no energy left at all, like a doll that has fallen over. Don't use it for just a little bit of tiredness. It's for when you want to go to sleep right now and can't even move your arms.

For A2 learners, 'guttari' is a useful word to describe physical states resulting from common situations like a long school day, a trip to the park, or a minor cold. You should start using it in the pattern 'Verb-te + guttari suru.' For example, 'Aruki-sugite, guttari shimashita' (I walked too much and became completely worn out). At this level, you can also use it to describe others. If you see your friend looking very sleepy and leaning their head on the table, you can ask, 'Daijoubu? Guttari shite iru ne' (Are you okay? You look completely wiped out). It's more descriptive than 'tsukareta' because it tells the listener that the person actually looks limp or weak. It's a great word to use when talking about pets or the weather, especially the hot Japanese summer which makes everyone feel 'guttari.'

At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance that separates 'guttari' from other exhaustion words like 'hetoheto' and 'kutakuta.' 'Guttari' specifically emphasizes the physical state of being limp or drooping. You should be able to use it as an adverb with the particle 'to' or as a state with 'shite iru.' It's frequently used in medical contexts to describe a patient's condition (e.g., 'Byouki de guttari shite iru' - limp with illness). You should also notice its use with non-human subjects, like plants drooping from lack of water ('Mizu ga nakute hana ga guttari shite iru'). At this level, you can use it to add more color to your stories. Instead of saying you were just tired after work, saying you were 'guttari' tells your friends that you were so tired you probably just collapsed onto your bed without changing clothes. It conveys a sense of total depletion of physical strength.

B2 learners should be comfortable using 'guttari' in more complex sentence structures and recognizing its use in literature and news media. You should understand that 'guttari' can describe not just the result of physical labor, but also the physical manifestation of emotional shock or deep grief. For example, 'Shock no amari, guttari to isu ni suwarikonda' (Overwhelmed by shock, she slumped limply into the chair). At this level, you should also be aware of the register; 'guttari' is slightly more descriptive and informal than clinical terms like 'kenrou' (fatigue). You can use it to describe the atmosphere of a place, such as a train car full of 'guttari shita' salarymen on a Friday night. You should also be able to distinguish it from 'gussuri' (sleeping soundly) and 'gutari' (a less common variation), ensuring your pronunciation of the double 't' (the sokuon) is clear, as it adds to the 'heavy' feeling of the word.

At the C1 level, you can explore the metaphorical and stylistic uses of 'guttari.' While primarily a physical descriptor, in high-level literature, it can be used to describe the 'limpness' of an organization, a movement, or a spirit that has lost its vitality. You should be able to use it to create vivid imagery in your writing. For instance, describing a city's energy as 'guttari' during a recession or a heatwave. You should also master the use of 'guttari' in combination with specific verbs like 'unadareru' (to hang one's head) or 'motaerakaru' (to lean against). Furthermore, you should understand its role in the system of Japanese mimetics, recognizing how the 'gu-' prefix relates to other words like 'ぐったり' (guttari), 'ぐでんぐでん' (guden-guden - dead drunk), and 'ぐずぐず' (guzu-guzu - slowly/hesitantly), all of which carry a sense of heaviness or lack of sharp movement. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the subtle social cues—using 'guttari' shows a level of descriptive empathy that 'tsukareta' lacks.

For C2 learners, 'guttari' is a tool for precision in narrative and descriptive Japanese. You should be able to analyze its phonetic impact—the voiced 'g' initial providing a sense of weight, the geminate 'tt' providing a moment of stasis, and the 'ri' suffix indicating a settled state. You can use it to contrast with 'shakkiri' (crisp/sharp) or 'hatsuratsu' (lively) to create dynamic descriptions of character states. In a professional or academic setting, while you might use more formal vocabulary in the core of a report, you might use 'guttari' in a presentation to vividly illustrate a point about public health or workplace stress. You should also be familiar with how 'guttari' appears in classical modern literature (like Soseki or Dazai) to describe the physical toll of existential angst or 'ennui.' At this level, your mastery of 'guttari' involves knowing exactly when its visceral, mimetic quality is more effective than a kanji-based synonym, allowing you to evoke a specific physical response in your reader or listener.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

ぐったり in 30 Seconds

Guttari describes being so exhausted that your body goes limp.
It is often used for people, pets, or plants in heat or illness.
Grammatically, it functions as an adverb, usually with 'suru' or 'to'.
It differs from 'hetoheto' by focusing on the 'limp' physical appearance.

The Japanese word ぐったり (guttari) is a vivid onomatopoeic or mimetic word (known as gitaigo) that captures a specific state of being completely worn out, exhausted, or limp. While English often uses broad terms like 'tired' or 'exhausted,' guttari specifically emphasizes the physical loss of strength and the resulting lack of movement. Imagine a person who has just finished a double shift and collapses onto a sofa, or a plant that hasn't been watered for days and is drooping toward the floor; both of these scenarios perfectly embody the essence of guttari. It is a B1-level word because it moves beyond the basic tsukareta (tired) to describe the manner in which someone is tired.

Visual Nuance: The word suggests a total lack of tension in the muscles. It is the state of 'limpness' that follows extreme exertion or illness.

一日中歩き回って、家に帰るとぐったりしてしまった。
(After walking around all day, I was completely worn out when I got home.)

Phonetically, the 'gu' (ぐ) sound often carries a heavy, weighted feeling in Japanese mimetics, while the small 'tsu' (っ) indicates a sudden stop or a state of being fixed in that heavy condition. The 'ri' (り) ending is common for adverbs describing a state. Together, they create a sound that feels heavy and immobile. You will frequently hear this word during the brutal Japanese summers, where the humidity and heat lead to natsubate (summer fatigue), leaving people guttari on trains and in offices. It is also the go-to word for describing someone with a high fever who is lying weakly in bed.

Common Subjects: People (after work/exercise), animals (in the heat), plants (without water), or even objects like a deflated balloon.

熱を出した子供が、ベッドでぐったりと横たわっている。
(The child with a fever is lying limply in bed.)

In a social context, saying someone is guttari communicates a high level of empathy. It recognizes that the person has no energy left to even maintain their posture. In anime or manga, you'll often see characters drawn with wavy lines or literally sagging to the ground to represent this word. It's a very physical, visual word that transcends simple emotional fatigue, though emotional drain can certainly lead to a guttari physical state.

あまりのショックに、彼女は椅子にぐったりと座り込んだ。
(Overwhelmed by the shock, she slumped limply into the chair.)

Using ぐったり correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as an adverb. Most commonly, it is paired with the verb する (suru) to describe a state, or と (to) followed by a verb of action (or lack thereof) like yokotawaru (to lie down) or suwarikomu (to sink into a seat). Because it is an onomatopoeic word, the 'to' is optional but often used to add emphasis to the manner of the action.

Pattern 1: [Subject] + は/が + ぐったりしている: This is the most common way to describe someone's current state of exhaustion. It translates to 'is completely worn out' or 'is lying there limply.'

残業続きで、父はぐったりしている。
(Due to continuous overtime, my father is completely worn out.)

When you want to describe the result of an event, you might use guttari to naru (to become limp/exhausted). This is useful for describing the effect of weather, illness, or a long journey. It emphasizes the transition from having energy to having none at all. For example, 'The dog became limp in the heat' would use this structure.

Pattern 2: ぐったり (と) + Verb: Use this to describe the manner of an action. Common verbs include taoreru (to fall/collapse), nemuru (to sleep), and motaerakaru (to lean against).

彼はぐったりと壁にもたれかかった。
(He leaned limply against the wall.)

It is important to note that guttari is rarely used for 'mental tiredness' alone unless it manifests physically. If you are just bored or mentally drained but still sitting upright and active, guttari might be too strong. It implies a physical sagging. If you tell your boss you are guttari, they might think you need to go to the hospital or go home immediately because it sounds quite severe.

水不足で花がぐったりと頭を垂れている。
(The flowers are drooping limply due to a lack of water.)

In Japan, ぐったり is a staple of daily conversation, news reporting, and creative media. One of the most common places you will hear it is in weather reports during the summer. Meteorologists often warn about the 'lethal heat' (mousho) and describe how people and pets are guttari. It paints a picture of the nation struggling under the humidity, where even the simplest task feels like a marathon.

Daily Life: Parents often use it to describe their children after a long day at a theme park or when the child has a fever. 'うちの子、熱でぐったりしちゃって...' (My child is all limp with a fever...)

週末の遊園地帰りの電車では、子供たちがぐったり寝ている。
(On the train home from the amusement park on weekends, children are sleeping limply.)

In the workplace, while you might use tsukaremashita (I'm tired) to be polite, you might describe a colleague who has been working 15-hour days as guttari shite iru to a third party. It conveys a sense of worry. If you see a coworker with their head on their desk, guttari is the perfect descriptor. It's also frequently used in medical contexts. A doctor might ask, 'ぐったりしていませんか？' (Is [the patient] appearing limp or unresponsive?), using the word to gauge the severity of an illness.

Literature & Manga: Authors use it to set a somber or heavy mood. It describes the physical manifestation of defeat or grief.

試合に負けた選手たちは、ベンチでぐったりとうなだれていた。
(The players who lost the match were slumped on the bench with their heads hanging.)

Finally, you'll see it in social media captions. A photo of a delicious but massive meal followed by a photo of the person lying on the couch might be captioned '食べすぎてぐったり' (Ate too much and now I'm limp/comatose). It adds a touch of dramatic flair to how tired or full one feels.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with ぐったり is confusing it with other 'tired' words like くたくた (kutakuta) or へとへと (hetoheto). While they all mean exhausted, the nuance of physical limpness is unique to guttari. If you say you are guttari but are still jumping around and full of energy, it sounds contradictory.

Mistake 1: Using it for mild tiredness: If you just finished a 10-minute walk, you are probably not 'guttari.' Use 'chotto tsukareta' instead. 'Guttari' implies you have zero energy left.

❌ 5分走ってぐったりした。
✅ 5分走って少し疲れた。
(Unless you are extremely out of shape, 5 minutes shouldn't make you 'guttari'.)

Another mistake is using it as a direct adjective without the proper particles. You cannot say 'guttari hito.' You must say 'ぐったりした人' (a person who has become limp) or 'ぐったりしている人' (a person who is currently limp). The state-change or ongoing state must be grammatically represented.

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Gussuri': Learners often confuse 'guttari' with 'gussuri' (sleeping soundly). While a 'guttari' person might sleep, 'gussuri' is positive (refreshing sleep), whereas 'guttari' is negative (exhaustion).

❌ 昨夜はぐったり眠れた。
✅ 昨夜はぐっすり眠れた。
(You sleep 'gussuri' to feel better; you are 'guttari' because you feel bad.)

Finally, avoid using guttari in very formal business writing unless you are describing a serious medical situation or a major crisis. It is a descriptive, somewhat informal word. In a formal report, you would use shoumou (exhaustion/depletion) or hirou-konpai (extreme fatigue).

Japanese is rich with 'tired' onomatopoeia. Knowing the difference between ぐったり and its cousins will make your Japanese sound much more natural. Let's compare the most common ones.

ぐったり vs. へとへと (Hetoheto): Hetoheto is used when you have no energy left to walk or move, often after intense physical activity like a marathon. Guttari is the state of being limp. You can be hetoheto while still standing, but guttari usually implies you've collapsed or are sagging.

ぐったり vs. くたくた (Kutakuta): Kutakuta originally described worn-out cloth or overcooked vegetables. It implies being 'worn thin' or 'ragged.' It is often used for daily work tiredness. Guttari is more about the physical 'droop' and is often used for illness or heat.

Comparison:
1. くたくた: 'I'm ragged after a long day at the office.'
2. へとへと: 'I'm spent after running 10km.'
3. ぐったり: 'I'm limp and lifeless because of this 40-degree fever.'

Other alternatives include ばてばて (batebate), which specifically refers to being 'worn out' by heat or a long struggle (from the verb bateru), and ぼろぼろ (boroboro), which describes being physically or mentally 'in tatters.' If you want to sound more masculine and slangy, you might use がっつり (gattsuri)... wait, no! Gattsuri means 'heartily' or 'thoroughly' (like eating a big meal). Don't confuse them!

Summary Table

Guttari: Limp, lifeless, drooping (appearance focus).
Hetoheto: Completely spent, out of breath (energy focus).
Kutakuta: Ragged, worn out like old cloth (durability focus).
Batebate: Exhausted by heat or exertion (stamina focus).

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The 'gu' in 'guttari' is the same 'gu' found in the name of the famous Sanrio character 'Gudetama' (the lazy egg). 'Gude' also describes a lack of energy or being limp!

Pronunciation Guide

UK ɡɯt.ta.ɾi

US ɡʊt.tɑ.ri

The stress is relatively flat, but there is a slight emphasis on the 'ta' following the pause.

Rhymes With

うっかり (ukkari) しっかり (shikkari) がっかり (gakkari) すっきり (sukkiri) ぴったり (pittari) ゆったり (yuttari) ちゃっかり (chakkari) めっきり (mekkiri)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'gutari' without the pause (the small 'tsu').
Confusing it with 'gussuri' (sleeping soundly).
Over-emphasizing the 'u' so it sounds like 'goo-ttari'.
Mixing it up with 'gattsuri' (heartily).
Treating it as a verb without 'suru'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read as it is usually in hiragana.

Writing 2/5

Simple hiragana characters, but remembering the small 'tsu' is key.

Speaking 3/5

Requires correct timing of the geminate consonant (っ).

Listening 3/5

Need to distinguish from similar-sounding mimetics.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

疲れる (tsukareru) 暑い (atsui) 病気 (byouki) 横になる (yoko ni naru) 倒れる (taoreru)

Learn Next

へとへと (hetoheto) くたくた (kutakuta) ばてる (bateru) 消耗する (shoumou suru) 倦怠感 (kentaikan)

Advanced

疲労困憊 (hirou konpai) 生気を欠く (seiki o kaku) 精根尽き果てる (seikon tsukihateru)

Grammar to Know

Onomatopoeia + する

ぐったりする、わくわくする、にこにこする

Onomatopoeia + と + Verb

ぐったりと倒れる、じっと見る

Onomatopoeia + した + Noun

ぐったりした子供、きらきらした目

Causal particle 'de'

暑さでぐったり、疲れでぐったり

State-of-being 'te iru'

ぐったりしている (currently limp)

Examples by Level

ねこがぐったりしています。

The cat is lying there limply.

Uses 'shite imasu' to show the cat is currently in that state.

あつさでぐったりしました。

I became worn out from the heat.

The particle 'de' shows the cause (heat).

いぬがぐったりねています。

The dog is sleeping limply.

Guttari describes the manner of sleeping.

がっこうのあと、ぐったりです。

After school, I'm wiped out.

Informal use with 'desu'.

はながぐったりしています。

The flower is drooping.

Guttari can be used for plants.

あかちゃんがぐったりしています。

The baby is limp (perhaps tired or sick).

Commonly used for babies' deep sleep.

とてもつかれて、ぐったりです。

I'm very tired and wiped out.

Combines 'tsukarete' with 'guttari'.

あついひはぐったりしますね。

On hot days, one gets worn out, doesn't one?

The 'ne' at the end seeks agreement.

弟は高い熱が出て、ぐったりしている。

My younger brother has a high fever and is limp.

Used to describe the physical effect of a fever.

一日中遊んで、子供たちはぐったりだ。

After playing all day, the children are exhausted.

'Guttari da' is a more casual version of 'guttari shite iru'.

暑い中を歩いたので、ぐったりしてしまった。

Because I walked in the heat, I ended up completely worn out.

'-te shimatta' emphasizes the negative result.

散歩のあと、犬が玄関でぐったりしている。

After the walk, the dog is lying limply at the entrance.

Shows a specific location of the state.

仕事が忙しすぎて、毎日ぐったりです。

Work is too busy, so I'm wiped out every day.

'-sugi' means 'too much'.

山登りのあと、みんなぐったりとしていた。

After mountain climbing, everyone was looking exhausted.

The 'to' after 'guttari' adds descriptive emphasis.

水やりを忘れて、植物がぐったりしている。

I forgot to water them, and the plants are drooping.

Describes the physical state of a plant.

彼はぐったりと椅子に座っている。

He is sitting limply in the chair.

Describes the manner of sitting.

長時間の会議が終わって、全員ぐったりしている。

The long meeting finished, and everyone is completely worn out.

Describes a collective state of a group.

マラソンを完走した彼は、地面にぐったりと倒れ込んだ。

After finishing the marathon, he collapsed limply onto the ground.

'Taore-konda' suggests a heavy, complete collapse.

その子は病気でぐったりして、食欲もないようだ。

The child is limp from illness and seems to have no appetite.

Connects the physical state with a symptom (lack of appetite).

真夏の太陽の下で、ひまわりがぐったりと頭を下げている。

Under the midsummer sun, the sunflowers are drooping their heads.

Personification of plants using 'atama o sageru'.

徹夜明けの彼は、ぐったりした様子でコーヒーを飲んでいる。

After staying up all night, he is drinking coffee looking completely wiped out.

'Guttari shita yousu' means 'appearing to be limp/exhausted'.

満員電車に揺られて、会社に着く頃にはぐったりだ。

Being shaken in a packed train, I'm already worn out by the time I get to work.

'Koro ni wa' marks the time by which the state is reached.

あまりの暑さに、公園の鳩もぐったりしているようだ。

Due to the extreme heat, even the pigeons in the park seem worn out.

'Youda' expresses an observation or appearance.

彼女はぐったりとソファに身を投げ出した。

She threw herself limply onto the sofa.

'Mi o nagedashita' is a dynamic verb for collapsing.

連日の猛暑で、街行く人々は皆ぐったりした表情を浮かべている。

With the continuous heatwave, people on the streets all have exhausted expressions.

'Hyoujou o ukaberu' means to show an expression.

激しい運動の後は、筋肉がぐったりとして力が入らない。

After intense exercise, my muscles are limp and I can't put any strength into them.

Describes specific body parts (muscles).

大雨でぐったりと濡れた子犬を保護した。

We rescued a puppy that was limp and soaked from the heavy rain.

Adverbial use describing the 'wet and limp' state.

彼は失恋のショックで、数日間ぐったりと寝込んでいた。

From the shock of a broken heart, he was bedridden and limp for several days.

'Nekonduita' means to be bedridden due to illness or shock.

長旅の疲れからか、彼は空港のベンチでぐったりと横になっていた。

Perhaps due to the fatigue of the long journey, he was lying limply on an airport bench.

'Kara ka' indicates a suspected reason.

台風が過ぎ去った後、庭の木々がぐったりと倒れていた。

After the typhoon passed, the trees in the garden were lying limply, knocked over.

Describes the aftermath of a natural disaster.

看病で疲れ果てた彼女は、机に突っ伏してぐったりしている。

Exhausted from nursing [someone], she is slumped over the desk, completely worn out.

'Tsuppushite' means to fall forward onto a surface.

そのボクサーは強烈なパンチを受け、ぐったりとロープにもたれかかった。

The boxer took a powerful punch and leaned limply against the ropes.

Describes physical collapse in a sports context.

重病を患っているその老人は、車椅子の上でぐったりと力なく座っていた。

The elderly man suffering from a serious illness sat limply and powerlessly in his wheelchair.

Combines 'guttari' with 'chikara naku' (without strength) for emphasis.

過酷な労働環境に、若者たちは精神的にも肉体的にもぐったりしている。

Under harsh working conditions, the young people are exhausted both mentally and physically.

Extends the physical 'limpness' to a mental state.

泥酔した彼は、介抱する友人の肩にぐったりと寄りかかっている。

Dead drunk, he was leaning limply on the shoulder of the friend who was looking after him.

'Yorikakatte iru' means leaning on someone/something.

その政治家はスキャンダルを追及され、記者会見の後はぐったりとうなだれていた。

The politician was grilled over a scandal and was hanging his head limply after the press conference.

'Unadarete ita' suggests a pose of shame or defeat.

水害に見舞われた村では、家財道具が泥にまみれてぐったりと散乱していた。

In the village hit by the flood, household goods were scattered limply, covered in mud.

Metaphorical use for inanimate objects to show devastation.

彼は連夜の猛稽古で、立ち上がる気力もなくぐったりと床に伏した。

From nights of intense practice, he lay limply on the floor without even the will to stand up.

'Fushita' is a literary way to say 'lay down' or 'prostrated'.

あまりの悲報に、彼女は膝から崩れ落ち、ぐったりとしたまま動かなかった。

At the terrible news, she collapsed to her knees and remained limp and motionless.

'Kuzure-ochi' describes a sudden physical collapse.

夏の終わりの蝉が、力尽きたように道端でぐったりとしている。

A cicada at the end of summer lies limply on the roadside, as if its strength is spent.

'Chikara-tsukita' means 'strength exhausted'.

戦場から帰還した兵士たちの眼差しは虚ろで、体はぐったりと生気を欠いていた。

The gaze of the soldiers returning from the battlefield was hollow, and their bodies were limp, lacking any vitality.

'Seiki o kaite ita' is a high-level expression for 'lacking life/vitality'.

その廃墟となった工場では、錆びついた機械がぐったりと沈黙を守っている。

In the ruined factory, the rusted machines maintain a limp silence.

Highly metaphorical use, personifying machines as 'limp'.

彼は長年の闘病生活の末、最後はぐったりと静かに息を引き取った。

After years of struggling with illness, he finally passed away quietly and limply.

'Iki o hikitotta' is a formal euphemism for dying.

猛烈な経済危機の波に、中小企業の経営者たちはぐったりと肩を落としている。

Under the wave of the fierce economic crisis, small business owners have their shoulders slumped limply.

'Kata o otosu' (to drop shoulders) is an idiom for being discouraged.

現代社会の喧騒に当てられ、都会の人々はぐったりとした倦怠感に包まれている。

Afflicted by the hustle and bustle of modern society, city dwellers are enveloped in a limp sense of ennui.

'Kentaikan' (ennui/fatigue) is a sophisticated noun.

その彫刻は、苦悩の末にぐったりと力尽きた人間を見事に表現している。

The sculpture masterfully expresses a human being who has become limp and exhausted after great suffering.

Used in the context of art criticism.

猛毒を盛られたのか、その巨獣はぐったりと横たわり、もはや動く気配もない。

Perhaps poisoned, the great beast lay limply, with no sign of movement anymore.

'Kehai' refers to an indication or sign of something.

彼は自らの無力さを痛感し、暗い部屋でぐったりと絶望に浸っていた。

He felt his own helplessness keenly and was limply immersed in despair in the dark room.

'Zetsubou ni hitatte ita' means 'was immersed/wallowing in despair'.

Common Collocations

ぐったりする

ぐったり横たわる

ぐったりと座り込む

ぐったりとうなだれる

ぐったりした様子

熱でぐったり

疲れでぐったり

ぐったりと倒れる

ぐったりした花

精神的にぐったり

Common Phrases

ぐったりしちゃった

— I've ended up completely worn out (casual).

今日は歩きすぎて、もうぐったりしちゃった。

ぐったりして動けない

— So exhausted that I cannot move.

昨日の残業のせいで、今日はぐったりして動けない。

見てるだけでぐったりする

— I feel exhausted just by looking at (it/them).

彼の忙しいスケジュールは、見てるだけでぐったりする。

ぐったりと身を任せる

— To let one's body go limp and surrender (to gravity/rest).

彼はソファにぐったりと身を任せた。

ぐったり感

— A sense of total exhaustion.

このぐったり感は何だろう。

ぐったり横になる

— To lie down in a limp manner.

仕事から帰ってすぐにぐったり横になった。

暑さでぐったり

— Limp from the heat.

夏の京都は暑さでぐったりする。

病気でぐったり

— Limp from illness.

インフルエンザでぐったりしている。

ぐったりと眠る

— To sleep in a state of exhaustion.

彼は泥のようにぐったりと眠った。

ぐったりとした表情

— An exhausted facial expression.

彼はぐったりとした表情で帰ってきた。

Often Confused With

ぐったり vs ぐっすり (gussuri)

Gussuri means 'sleeping soundly.' Guttari means 'limp/exhausted.' You sleep 'gussuri' after being 'guttari'.

ぐったり vs がっかり (gakkari)

Gakkari means 'disappointed.' While disappointment can make you 'guttari,' they are different emotions/states.

ぐったり vs がっつり (gattsuri)

Gattsuri means 'thoroughly' or 'heartily' (e.g., eating). It has a very energetic nuance, opposite to 'guttari'.

Idioms & Expressions

"ぐったりと肩を落とす"

— To have one's shoulders slumped in extreme disappointment or fatigue.

不合格通知を見て、彼はぐったりと肩を落とした。

Descriptive

"ぐったりと首を垂れる"

— To let one's head hang limply (often used for plants or defeated people).

ひまわりが暑さでぐったりと首を垂れている。

Literary

"ぐったりと力尽きる"

— To reach the absolute end of one's strength and go limp.

ゴールした瞬間、彼はぐったりと力尽きた。

Dramatic

"ぐったりと泥のように眠る"

— To sleep like a log/mud (extremely deeply due to exhaustion).

旅行から帰って、ぐったりと泥のように眠った。

Informal

"ぐったりと幽霊のよう"

— To look as lifeless as a ghost from exhaustion.

徹夜明けの彼女は、ぐったりとして幽霊のようだ。

Metaphorical

"ぐったりと息も絶え絶え"

— To be limp and barely breathing (due to exhaustion or illness).

マラソン後、彼はぐったりとして息も絶え絶えだった。

Literary

"ぐったりと魂が抜けたよう"

— As if the soul has left the body (total physical/mental collapse).

ショックな知らせに、彼はぐったりと魂が抜けたようになった。

Dramatic

"ぐったりと椅子の一部になる"

— To be so limp in a chair that one seems part of it.

彼はぐったりと椅子の一部になったかのように動かない。

Humorous

"ぐったりと匙を投げる"

— To give up completely in an exhausted state (variation of 'saji o nageru').

あまりの難問に、彼はぐったりとして匙を投げた。

Idiomatic

"ぐったりと波に洗われる"

— To be washed by waves like a limp object (used for driftwood or bodies).

流木が海岸にぐったりと打ち上げられている。

Literary

Easily Confused

ぐったり vs くたくた (kutakuta)

Both mean exhausted.

Kutakuta is like worn-out cloth; Guttari is like a limp body. Kutakuta is more common for daily work fatigue.

一日中働いて、もうくたくただ。

ぐったり vs へとへと (hetoheto)

Both mean exhausted.

Hetoheto means you have no energy left to move; Guttari means you are actually lying there limply.

階段を上ってへとへとになった。

ぐったり vs ぐでぐで (gudegude)

Both describe a limp state.

Gudegude is often used for being very drunk or completely lacking discipline/shape.

酔っ払ってぐでぐでになる。

ぐったり vs ばてばて (batebate)

Both mean exhausted.

Batebate specifically implies 'giving out' due to heat or physical struggle.

練習が厳しくてばてばてだ。

ぐったり vs ぼろぼろ (boroboro)

Both describe being in a bad physical state.

Boroboro means 'in tatters' or 'falling apart,' either physically or mentally.

心も体もぼろぼろだ。

Sentence Patterns

[Noun] がぐったりしています。

ねこがぐったりしています。

[Reason] でぐったりしました。

あつさでぐったりしました。

[Verb-te] ぐったりしている。

歩きすぎてぐったりしている。

ぐったりと [Verb]。

ぐったりと横になる。

ぐったりした [Noun]。

ぐったりした顔をしている。

あまりの [Noun] にぐったりする。

あまりの忙しさにぐったりする。

ぐったりと [Verb-passive]。

ぐったりと投げ出された。

[Metaphorical Subject] がぐったりと [Verb]。

古い機械がぐったりと沈黙している。

Word Family

Nouns

ぐったり感 (guttari-kan) - The feeling of being limp/exhausted.

Verbs

ぐったりする (guttari suru) - To become limp/exhausted.

Adjectives

ぐったりした (guttari shita) - Used as a past-participle adjective (e.g., a limp child).

ぐでんぐでん (gudenguden) - Dead drunk.

ぐでたま (Gudetama) - The lazy egg character (shares the 'gu' root).

ぐずぐず (guzuguzu) - Hesitating/Dallying.

ぐにゃぐにゃ (gunyagunya) - Squishy/Limp.

ぐったり (guttari) - This word itself is the core.

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in daily life and media.

Common Mistakes

Using 'guttari' for a sound sleep. → gussuri (ぐっすり)
Guttari is about exhaustion/limpness. Gussuri is about the quality of sleep. You can't say 'I slept guttari' to mean you feel refreshed.
Saying 'guttari hito' for an exhausted person. → guttari shita hito (ぐったりした人)
Guttari is an adverb. To modify a noun, you must use the 'shita' (past participle) form.
Using 'guttari' for just being 'a little tired'. → chotto tsukareta (ちょっと疲れた)
Guttari is a strong word. It implies you are so tired you can't move properly. Using it for mild tiredness sounds dramatic.
Confusing 'guttari' with 'gattsuri'. → guttari (exhausted) vs gattsuri (heartily)
They sound similar but are opposites in energy. Gattsuri is high energy; Guttari is zero energy.
Pronouncing it 'gutari'. → guttari (with a double T)
The small 'tsu' (っ) is vital. Without it, the word loses its mimetic 'weight' and might not be understood.

Tips

Summer Savior

In Japan, 'guttari' is the most used word to describe how everyone feels in August. Use it to complain about the heat!

Verb Pairing

Always remember that 'guttari' is an adverb. It needs a verb like 'suru' or 'taoreru' to function in a sentence.

Pet Talk

If your pet is lying flat on the floor looking cute but tired, 'guttari' is the perfect word to describe them.

Guttari vs. Kutakuta

Remember: Guttari = Limp (like a dead fish). Kutakuta = Worn out (like an old t-shirt).

The 'Stop' Sound

Don't rush the word. That tiny pause in the middle is what makes it 'guttari'!

Hiragana is Best

While some mimetics have kanji, 'guttari' is almost always written in hiragana. Katakana can be used for emphasis in manga.

Show Empathy

Saying 'Guttari shite iru ne' shows you understand how hard the other person has been working.

Emergency Check

If a child is 'guttari' in a medical context, it's a 'red flag' symptom. It means they are unresponsive or very weak.

The Noodle Image

If you forget the meaning, think of a limp noodle. That is the definition of 'guttari'.

Opposite Day

The opposite is 'shakkiri' (standing straight/alert). Use them together to show a change in state.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'GOOD' person who worked so hard they turned into a 'TARI' (tar) - slow, heavy, and limp. Or, 'GUT-tari': your 'GUT' is so heavy you collapsed.

Visual Association

Picture a cooked noodle. Before cooking, it's stiff. After cooking, it's 'guttari' - it has no strength to stand up on its own.

Word Web

Limp Exhausted Drooping Illness Heat Fever Collapse Wilted

Challenge

Try to find three 'guttari' things today. A tired coworker? A wilted flower? A sleeping pet? Describe them using 'guttari shite iru'.

Word Origin

Like many Japanese onomatopoeic words, 'guttari' originated from the phonetic representation of a physical state. The 'gu' sound is traditionally associated with weight, depth, or a heavy impact in Japanese mimetics.

Original meaning: The original sense was likely the sound or feeling of something heavy and soft hitting a surface or losing its internal support.

Japanese (Mimetic/Onomatopoeic).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using it for people you don't know well; it can imply they look quite bad or sickly.

In English, we might say 'wiped out' or 'dead tired,' but 'guttari' is more visual, like 'limp as a rag.'

Gudetama (Sanrio character) - embodies the 'gude/guttari' aesthetic. Ashita no Joe - the famous final scene where the boxer is slumped in his corner. Natsubate - the cultural concept of summer fatigue often described with 'guttari'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weather (Summer Heat)

暑さでぐったり
夏バテでぐったり
熱中症でぐったり
湿気でぐったり

Illness

熱でぐったり
病気でぐったり
風邪でぐったり
ぐったりした患者

Work/Study

残業でぐったり
試験勉強でぐったり
会議の後にぐったり
通勤でぐったり

Pets/Animals

散歩の後にぐったり
日向ぼっこでぐったり
おもちゃで遊んでぐったり
ぐったり寝ている犬

Plants

水不足でぐったり
直射日光でぐったり
植え替えでぐったり
ぐったりした葉

Conversation Starters

"最近、仕事が忙しくて毎日ぐったりしていませんか？"

"日本の夏は暑すぎて、外を歩くだけでぐったりしますね。"

"ペットがぐったりしている時は、どうやって看病しますか？"

"マラソン大会の後は、皆さんぐったりとした様子でしたか？"

"ぐったりした時に一番食べたくなるものは何ですか？"

Journal Prompts

今日、一番ぐったりした瞬間について書いてください。なぜそうなりましたか？

あなたが「ぐったり」している時、周りの人はどう反応しますか？

「ぐったり」した状態から回復するために、あなたは何をしますか？

最近見た「ぐったり」している動物や植物について描写してください。

仕事や勉強で「ぐったり」しないための、あなたなりの秘訣は何ですか？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but usually only if it makes you look physically limp. If you are just stressed but still active, 'tsukareta' or 'stress ga tamaru' is better. If you are so stressed you collapsed on the bed, 'guttari' is perfect.

The 'to' makes it more descriptive and emphasizes the manner. In most daily conversations, they are interchangeable, but 'to' is slightly more literary or emphatic.

No, it is not a bad word. It is a descriptive word. However, telling someone they look 'guttari' is like saying they look 'wiped out' or 'terrible,' so use it with empathy.

Only metaphorically in literature. In normal speech, you would say the machine is 'kowarete iru' (broken) or 'doukanai' (won't move).

Think of it as a 'double T.' You prepare to say the 't' sound but hold your breath for a split second before releasing it into 'ta.' Gutt-tari.

Rarely in formal documents. In the office, you might use it when talking to colleagues about how tired you are, but not to a client.

Yes! It is the standard word for plants that are drooping or wilting due to heat or lack of water.

Yes, they share the 'gu' mimetic root which relates to being limp, soft, or heavy.

Usually, we say 'guttari suru' or 'guttari to naru.' 'Guttari ni naru' is grammatically awkward.

No. You can be 'guttari' and awake, just unable to move or sit up straight. But 'guttari' people often do end up sleeping.