also: いかいか
noun
Only with reading イガイガ / いがいが
Refers to the spiky outer husk of chestnuts, etc. Often used in children's language or onomatopoeically.
See also: 毬 (いが)
栗のイガイガを触ると痛いよ。
It hurts if you touch the chestnut bur.
adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle
prickly; irritating; scratchy
Only with reading イガイガ / いがいが
Describes a physical sensation of irritation, like a scratchy throat or bristly texture. Often used with する or と.
のどがイガイガする。
My throat feels scratchy.
このセーターは肌にイガイガする。
This sweater feels prickly against my skin.
adverb taking the 'to' particle, adverb
crying of a baby
Archaic mimetic word for a baby's cry. Rarely used in modern Japanese.
古語では、赤ん坊の泣き声を「イガイガ」と表すことがあった。
In old language, a baby's cry was sometimes expressed as 'igaiga'.
毬 (いが) is the standard word for a bur or husk, while イガイガ is a more mimetic, often childish or onomatopoeic variant.
Mimetic word derived from the sensation of prickliness or the sound of a baby crying. The exact origin is uncertain.