ぎっしり

also: ぎっちり

ぎ

っ

し

り

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

tightly packed; densely; crammed

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a space filled to capacity with little or no room to spare; often used for schedules, containers, or crowds.

箱はこの中なかに本ほんがぎっしり詰つまっている。
The box is tightly packed with books.
今日きょうの予よ定ていはぎっしりだ。
Today's schedule is jam-packed.

See all 24 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に〈物もの〉がぎっしり詰つまるto be packed tightly into a place
本ほん棚だなに本ほんがぎっしり詰つまっている。
The bookshelf is crammed full of books.
〈物もの〉がぎっしり並ならぶfor things to be lined up with no gaps between them
テーブルに料りょう理りがぎっしり並ならんでいる。
The dishes are lined up tightly on the table.
予よ定ていがぎっしり詰つまるto have a schedule packed full of plans
今日きょうは予よ定ていがぎっしり詰つまっていて休やすむ時じ間かんがない。
My schedule today is jam-packed, so I don't have time to rest.

Related words· 7

ぎゅうぎゅうN1
ぎっしり focuses on being filled to capacity with no space to spare, while ぎゅうぎゅう emphasizes the uncomfortable sensation of being squeezed or crushed.
すし詰づめ
ぎっしり can describe objects, schedules, or people packed tightly, while すし詰め specifically pictures people crammed together like sushi in a box.
満まん杯ぱい
ぎっしり is an adverb describing the manner of being packed tightly, while 満杯 is a noun/na-adjective stating that a container or space has reached full capacity.
びっしりN3
ぎっしり emphasizes being crammed to full capacity, while びっしり focuses on things being closely packed with no gaps, often in rows or lines.

Show 3 more

パンパンN1
パンパン describes something stretched so full it looks ready to burst, while ぎっしり just means tightly packed without implying bulging or bursting.
みっちりN1
ぎっしり describes something being densely packed or crowded, while みっちり focuses on a tight, gapless fit or the thoroughness of the arrangement.
がっちりN1
ぎっしり describes things packed tightly or crammed full, while がっちり describes something being structurally tight or firmly fastened.

Opposites

ガラガラN3
ぎっしり describes a space or schedule packed to capacity, while がらがら describes one that is nearly empty.
ちらほらN1
ぎっしり describes things packed tightly together, the opposite of ちらほら's scattered, sparse distribution.
スカスカN1
ぎっしり describes items crammed in with no space left, contrasting with the sparse, empty feel of スカスカ.

Don't confuse with

びっしりN3
ぎっしり and びっしり sound alike, but ぎっしり highlights things packed tightly into a space (a bag, a schedule), while びっしり highlights a surface densely covered without gaps (rows of teeth, sweat, hair).

Written forms

ぎっしりUsage86%
Standard hiragana spelling; the most common written form.
ギッシリUsage10%
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.
ぎっちりUsage3%
Rare variant with a slightly different nuance; sometimes implies a tighter or more precise fit.
ギッチリUsage1%
Katakana form of the rare variant ぎっちり.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic or mimetic word; the exact derivation is uncertain, but it likely imitates the sound or feeling of something being pressed tightly together.