グラグラ

グ

ラ

グ

ラ

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

グラグラする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

Describes physical instability: a loose tooth, a shaky table, or an unsteady walk. Often used with する or と.

Used for mental or emotional instability: unable to make up one's mind, or a resolve that is faltering. Often with する or と.

boiling up; bubbling vigorously

Describes liquid boiling with large, rolling bubbles. Less common than the physical/mental instability senses.

Describes a sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness, often from illness or intoxication. Related to くらくら.

〈物もの〉がグラグラするfor something (like a tooth or table) to be loose and wobbly
この歯は、グラグラしてるから今いまにも抜ぬけそう。
This tooth is so loose it looks like it's about to fall out.
決けっ心しんがグラグラ揺ゆらぐfor one's resolve to waver back and forth
彼かの女じょの説せっ得とくで私わたしの決けっ心しんがグラグラ揺ゆらいだ。
Her persuasion made my resolve start to waver.
〈物もの〉がグラグラ沸わくfor liquid to boil vigorously with rolling bubbles
鍋なべのお湯ゆがグラグラ沸わいている。
The water in the pot is boiling vigorously.
頭あたまがグラグラするto feel dizzy or lightheaded
熱ねつで頭あたまがグラグラする。
My head is spinning because of the fever.
〈場ば所しょ〉がグラグラ揺ゆれるfor a place or structure to shake violently
地じ震しんで建たて物ものがグラグラ揺ゆれた。
The building shook violently in the earthquake.

ふらふらN3sense 1
ふらふら describes swaying or unsteady movement caused by weakness or exhaustion, while グラグラ describes a more pronounced wobble or shake, as in a loose tooth or table.
クラクラN1sense 4
くらくら is used specifically for dizziness or lightheadedness, whereas グラグラ covers a broader range of physical wobbling and shaking as well as dizziness.
ゆらゆらN1
ぐらぐら suggests a violent or unstable shaking of heavy objects or structures, whereas ゆらゆら suggests a gentle, light swaying.
よろよろN1
ぐらぐら describes something physically loose or shaking, like a wobbly table, whereas よろよろ describes a person's unsteady walking or standing.

しっかりN4sense 1
しっかり describes something firm, steady, and secure, the opposite of グラグラ's unsteady wobbling.

クラクラN1sense 4
クラクラ is a katakana-emphasized form used almost exclusively for dizziness, while グラグラ has a wider range of meanings including physical wobbling, mental wavering, and boiling.

グラグラUsage43%
Standard katakana spelling for this mimetic word; high priority.
ぐらぐらUsage57%
Hiragana spelling is also used, especially in casual or literary contexts.

A mimetic word (擬態語) whose sound-symbolic origin is uncertain. The reduplicated form グラグラ imitates a heavy, unstable wobbling or shaking sensation.