ごわごわ

ご

わ

ご

わ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, adverb, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

stiff; starchy; coarse

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Describes fabric, paper, hair, or similar materials that feel stiff, rough, or lack softness. Often used for clothes or towels that have become stiff after washing or drying.

このタオルは洗せん濯たくするとごわごわになる。
This towel gets stiff after washing.

新あたらしいジーンズはまだごわごわしている。

The new jeans are still stiff.

Written forms

ごわごわUsage57%
Standard kana spelling for this onomatopoeic word; usually written in kana.
ゴワゴワUsage43%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, common for mimetic words in informal or emphatic contexts.
強ごわ強ごわ
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Rare ateji kanji form; not recommended for learners.
強ごわ々ごわ
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Rare ateji kanji form with iteration mark; not recommended for learners.

Kanji

強strong

Similar words

かさかさ
かさかさ describes a dry, rough, or flaky texture (like chapped skin or dry leaves), while ごわごわ focuses on stiffness and lack of softness in fabric-like materials.
ざらざら
ざらざら describes a gritty, granular roughness (like sandpaper), whereas ごわごわ describes a stiff, boardy texture without necessarily being gritty.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic/mimetic word; the exact derivation is uncertain, but the reduplicated form suggests a sound-symbolic origin evoking stiffness or coarseness.