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腫れぼったい (はれぼったい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
i-adjective
puffy ; somewhat swollen
Describes a body part (often eyelids, face, or limbs) that appears slightly swollen or puffy, typically from fluid retention, fatigue, or mild inflammation. The suffix ぼったい adds a sense of 'looking somewhat ~'.
。
After crying, my face became somewhat swollen.
Written forms 腫は れぼったい Usage 71%
Standard kanji spelling using 腫 (swelling).
はれぼったい Usage 29%
Kana spelling; used when the kanji is not needed or for clarity.
脹は れぼったい
Variant using 脹 (expand/swell); less common than 腫れぼったい.
Similar words 腫は れる 腫れる is the verb 'to swell', while 腫れぼったい is an adjective describing a puffy, swollen appearance.
むくむ むくむ also means 'to swell' (often from fluid retention), but 腫れぼったい focuses on the visual puffiness rather than the swelling process.
Etymology Derived from the verb 腫れる (to swell) with the adjectival suffix ぼったい, which adds a sense of 'appearing somewhat ~' or 'having a tendency to ~'. The exact origin of ぼったい is uncertain, but it is a colloquial suffix found in a few adjectives.
