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ぐちぐち Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ぐちぐち

ぐ

ち

ぐ

ち

Meanings

1

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

mumbling; muttering

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Describes the sound or action of speaking in a low, indistinct voice, often to oneself. Onomatopoeic.

彼かれは何なにかぐちぐちとつぶやいていた。
He was muttering something under his breath.

2

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

complaining continuously; grumbling

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Used when someone keeps complaining or grumbling about something, often in an annoying or persistent manner.

彼かれは給きゅう料りょうが安やすいとぐちぐち言いっている。
He keeps complaining that his salary is low.

Written forms

ぐちぐちUsage33%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 愚痴愚痴 is rare and not commonly used.
グチグチUsage67%
kana-only spelling
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.
愚ぐ痴ち愚ぐ痴ち
Kanji form is rare; the word is almost always written in kana.

Kanji

愚

foolish, folly, absurdity

痴stupid, foolish

Similar words

愚ぐ痴ち
愚痴 is a noun meaning 'complaint' or 'grievance', while ぐちぐち is an adverb describing the act of complaining continuously.
ぶつぶつ
ぶつぶつ also means muttering or grumbling, but can also refer to small bumps or spots. ぐちぐち is more specifically about complaining or mumbling in a low voice.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic word mimicking the sound of low, indistinct speech or grumbling. The kanji 愚痴 (complaint) is used for the noun form, but the reduplicated form is almost always written in kana.