砂利じゃり

also: ざり

じゃ

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

Refers to small stones or crushed rock used for paths, construction, or railway ballast. Can also be used adjectivally with の.

庭にわに砂利じゃりを敷しいた。
I spread gravel in the garden.
線せん路ろの砂利じゃりが雨あめで流ながされた。
The ballast on the railway track was washed away by the rain.

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

child; kid; rugrat

colloquialusually written using kana alone

Only with reading じゃり

Colloquial, slightly rough or affectionate term for a small child. Usually written in kana. The reading is always じゃり.

うちのじゃりがまたいたずらした。
My rugrat got into mischief again.
公こう園えんでじゃりたちが遊あそんでいる。
The kids are playing in the park.

See all 49 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に砂じゃ利りを敷しくto spread/lay gravel in a place
庭にわに砂利じゃりを敷しいて雑ざっ草そうを防ふせいだ。
We laid gravel in the yard to keep weeds down.
砂利じゃりを運はこぶto haul/transport gravel
トラックで砂利じゃりを工こう事じ現げん場ばまで運はこんだ。
They hauled gravel to the construction site by truck.

Kanji

砂sand
利profit, advantage, benefit

Related words

小こ石いし sense 1
小石 is any small stone or pebble in general, while 砂利 specifically means crushed rock or gravel used as building material.
子こ供どもN5sense 2
子供 is the neutral, standard word for a child, while 砂利 is rough slang used mainly by adults referring to kids underfoot.
砂すなN4sense 1
砂 refers to fine sand, whereas 砂利 refers to the coarser, pebble-sized gravel used for paths and construction.
ガキ sense 2
餓鬼 is a blunter, more derisive slang term for a child than 砂利, which can carry a lighter, half-affectionate tone.
砕さい石せき
砂利 refers broadly to gravel or small stones of any origin, while 砕石 specifically means stone that has been mechanically crushed for construction use.

Don't confuse with

砂すなN4
砂 refers to fine sand or grit, while 砂利 refers to larger gravel or pebbles.

Word family

玉たま砂利じゃり
gravel; pebbles
砂利じゃり道みち
gravel path; gravel road
砂利じゃり敷じき
graveled; gravel-covered

Written forms

砂利Usage85%
- じゃり
  Standard kanji spelling for gravel/ballast. The reading じゃり is the most common.
- ざり
じゃりUsage8%
Kana spelling is usual for the colloquial 'child' sense.
ジャリUsage7%
ざり
Rare reading for the gravel sense; not commonly used.

Etymology

The kanji 砂 (sand) and 利 (profit/advantage) are used phonetically for the reading じゃり, which is of uncertain origin. The slang sense 'child' likely derives from the small size of gravel, comparing children to pebbles.