ぎりぎり

ぎ

り

ぎ

り

Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

Describes a harsh, scraping sound, often of teeth or hard objects rubbing together. Typically used with と.

Indicates doing something with great physical force or effort, often implying a straining or binding action. Can be used with と.

歯はを〈動どう詞し〉ぎりぎりと鳴ならすto grind one's teeth with a grating sound
彼かれは悔くやしそうに歯はをぎりぎりと鳴ならした。
He gnashed his teeth in frustration, making a grinding sound.
〈物もの〉をぎりぎりと締しめるto tighten something forcefully
ロープをぎりぎりと締しめて荷に物もつを固こ定ていした。
He tightened the rope firmly to secure the load.

ギシギシ sense 1
ぎしぎし describes a creaking or squeaking friction sound, while ぎりぎり (sense 1) describes a harsher grinding or gnashing sound.
しっかりN4sense 2
しっかり is a plain adverb meaning firmly or securely, while ぎりぎり (sense 2) is an onomatopoeic adverb emphasizing forceful straining or binding.
辛かろうじてN1
ぎりぎり is casual and often used for physical limits or deadlines, while 辛うじて is more formal and stresses the difficulty of the narrow margin.
すれすれN2
ぎりぎり is used mainly for time or quantity limits (ぎりぎり間に合う, ぎりぎりの予算), while すれすれ emphasizes near-contact or just barely meeting/failing a standard.

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間かん一いっ髪ぱつN1
ぎりぎり is a broader, everyday word for 'right at the limit' (time, space, budget, etc.), while 間一髪 specifically highlights a narrowly avoided danger or disaster.
土ど壇たん場ば
ギリギリ is a casual, everyday word for cutting it close (in time or limits), while 土壇場 is a stronger, more dramatic expression for a critical final juncture.

キリキリN1sense 1
きりきり usually describes a sharp twisting pain or a tightening motion, whereas ぎりぎり (sense 1) describes a grinding or gnashing sound.

Mimetic word; the exact derivation is uncertain, but the reduplicated form suggests a harsh, continuous sound or action.