ガタガタ

ガ

タ

ガ

タ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

ガタガタする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

Describes a hard, repeated rattling or clattering sound, such as loose parts shaking or a vehicle vibrating noisily.

Describes a person or thing trembling or shaking, often from cold, fear, or nervousness.

Describes someone complaining or grumbling persistently, often in an annoying manner.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective

rickety; shaky; wobbly; decrepit

Describes something physically unstable, loose, or in poor condition, such as furniture, buildings, or machinery.

〈物もの〉がガタガタするfor something to rattle or clatter
古ふるいバスの窓まどがガタガタする。
The windows of the old bus rattle.
〈人ひと〉がガタガタ震ふるえるfor someone to tremble/shiver violently
寒さむくて体からだがガタガタ震ふるえた。
I was shivering all over from the cold.
〈人ひと〉にガタガタ言いうto grumble or complain persistently to someone
上じょう司しにガタガタ言いわれて嫌いやになった。
I got fed up with my boss constantly grumbling at me.
〈物もの〉がガタガタだfor something to be rickety or in poor condition
この椅い子すはガタガタで危あぶない。
This chair is rickety and dangerous.
歯はがガタガタするfor one's teeth to chatter
寒さむさで歯はがガタガタした。
My teeth were chattering from the cold.

がたんN1sense 1
ガタン describes one sharp, single clatter, while ガタガタ describes a repeated or continuous rattling.
ぶるぶるN1sense 2
ブルブル is a fine, light shivering (as from cold), while ガタガタ describes a heavier, more visible shaking.
ぶつぶつN3sense 3
ぶつぶつ is muttered, under-the-breath grumbling, while ガタガタ implies louder, more persistent complaining.
ガチャガチャ sense 1
ガチャガチャ suggests a metallic clashing or jumbled noise, while ガタガタ is a looser, heavier rattling of parts.

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ガクガク sense 2
がくがく focuses on knees or joints giving way from fear or exhaustion, while ガタガタ can describe the whole body shaking.
びりびりN1
ガタガタ describes a rattling, clattering sound from loose or shaking objects, while びりびり describes a sharper vibrating shudder caused by a loud noise or impact.
がた
がた is the plain noun for looseness or wear, while ガタガタ is the onomatopoeic adjective/adverb describing the rattling sound or shaky state that results from it.
ぞくぞく
がたがた describes visible shaking or trembling (often from cold or fear), while ぞくぞく describes the internal sensation of chills without necessarily shaking.
ぐずぐずN1
がたがた describes something loose enough to rattle or wobble, while ぐずぐず describes something slackened or no longer firmly fixed.

どたばたN1
がたがた describes a rattling or shaking sound (like a loose object), whereas どたばた describes noisy running or flustered activity, not mechanical rattling.

Onomatopoeic word mimicking the sound of rattling or shaking. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a typical reduplicative mimetic form.