グダグダ

also: グタグタ

グ

ダ

グ

ダ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

グダグダする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	グダグダする	グダグダしない
Polite	グダグダします	グダグダしません
Past polite	グダグダしました	グダグダしませんでした
Past	グダグダした	グダグダしなかった
Te-form	グダグダして	グダグダしないで
Desire	グダグダしたい	グダグダしたくない
Potential	グダグダできる	グダグダできない
Passive	グダグダされる	グダグダされない
Causative	グダグダさせる	グダグダさせない
Causative passive	グダグダさせられる	グダグダさせられない
Volitional	グダグダしよう
Polite volitional	グダグダしましょう
Imperative	グダグダしろ	グダグダするな
Conditional	グダグダすれば	グダグダしなければ
Tara conditional	グダグダしたら	グダグダしなかったら

Meanings

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

tediously; persistently; at length

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes doing something in a long-winded, repetitive, or tiresome manner, often with a sense of dragging on.

彼かれはグダグダと文もん句くを言いい続つづけた。
He kept complaining tediously.
会かい議ぎがグダグダと長なが引びいた。
The meeting dragged on at length.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

lazily; sluggishly; slovenly

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a lack of energy, motivation, or neatness; often used for someone lounging around or doing something half-heartedly.

休やすみの日ひは家いえでグダグダしている。
On my days off, I just laze around at home.
彼かれはグダグダな格かっ好こうで出でかけた。
He went out in a slovenly outfit.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, na-adjective

to a pulp; to a mush

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes food boiled until it becomes soft and mushy; often used with verbs like 煮る (simmer).

大だい根こんをグダグダになるまで煮にる。
Simmer the daikon until it becomes mushy.

Usage patterns

グダグダ(と)言いうto go on complaining or explaining tediously
彼かれはグダグダと文もん句くを言いっていた。
He kept complaining on and on tediously.
グダグダ(と)過すごすto spend time lazily, doing nothing productive
休きゅう日じつは家いえでグダグダ過すごした。
I spent the holiday lounging around at home doing nothing.
〈物もの〉をグダグダに煮にるto simmer something until it turns to mush
大だい根こんをグダグダに煮に込こんだ。
I simmered the daikon until it turned to mush.
グダグダになるto become disorganized, listless, or worn out
会かい議ぎは途と中ちゅうからグダグダになった。
The meeting fell apart into a disorganized mess partway through.

Related words

だらだらN2sense 2
ダラダラ describes a continuous, sluggish or dragging-on action, while グダグダ adds a stronger sense of tedium, disorder, or slovenliness.
ぐずぐずN1sense 2
グズグズ focuses on hesitating or dawdling before acting, whereas グダグダ describes rambling talk or listless, unfocused behavior.
くどくどN1sense 1
くどくど describes repetitive, nagging speech, while グダグダ can describe the same tedious talk but also covers laziness and mushy food.

Opposites

きびきびN2sense 2
きびきび describes brisk, energetic movement or action, the opposite of the sluggish, lazy manner described by グダグダ.

Written forms

グダグダUsage61%
Common katakana spelling for this mimetic word.
ぐだぐだUsage28%
Hiragana spelling, also frequently used.
グタグタUsage6%
Variant with /t/ instead of /d/; less common but recognized.
ぐたぐたUsage5%
Hiragana variant with /t/.

Etymology

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but the reduplicated form with voiced /g/ and /d/ sounds suggests a sense of heaviness, slowness, or lack of sharpness.