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大わらわ (おおわらわ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective
working feverishly ; strenuous effort ; furious dedication
Describes a state of being completely absorbed in a task, often with a sense of frantic or desperate effort. Commonly used in the phrase 大わらわになる.
間ま
に
合あ
わ
せよう
と
大おお
わらわ
に
なっ
て
いる
。
He is in a frantic rush to meet the deadline.
2
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective
dishevelled hair ; fighting with dishevelled hair
archaic
Only when written 大童
Archaic original meaning. Refers to hair being in disarray, especially from fighting or struggling. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical or literary contexts.
Written forms 大おお わらわ Usage 46%
Standard modern spelling. The kanji 大 is used for the prefix おお, while わらわ is written in kana.
大童おおわらわ Usage 27%
Archaic kanji spelling, originally meaning 'dishevelled hair'. Rarely used in modern Japanese.
おおわらわ Usage 27%
Similar words 必ひっ 死し 必死 means 'desperate' or 'frantic' and is more common and general. 大わらわ emphasizes being extremely busy and absorbed in a task, often with a nuance of physical or mental strain.
てんてこ 舞ま い てんてこ舞い also means being extremely busy, but it often implies being rushed off one's feet or in a flurry of activity. 大わらわ can carry a stronger sense of desperate, single-minded effort.
Etymology Originally from 大 (おお, 'great') + わらわ (archaic word for 'child' or 'dishevelled hair'). The original meaning was 'dishevelled hair' or 'fighting with dishevelled hair', which later shifted to the modern sense of 'working feverishly' or 'strenuous effort'.
