ぎりぎり
ぎりぎり
adverb
just barely; at the last moment; on the edge
1.
just barely; at the last moment
Describes doing something with no time or margin to spare, just making it.
ぎりぎりで電車に間に合った。
I just barely made it on time for the train.
締め切りぎりぎりに提出した。
I submitted it right at the deadline.
試験にぎりぎりで合格した。
I just barely passed the exam.
2.
at the limit; to the edge
Describes being at the very limit of something, with no room for error.
予算がぎりぎりだ。
The budget is at its limit.
ガソリンがぎりぎりで心配だ。
The gas is almost empty and I'm worried.
スーツケースに荷物をぎりぎりまで詰めたので、閉めるのが大変だった。
I packed the suitcase to the brim, so it was hard to close.
ぎりぎり is a mimetic word (擬態語) that expresses having almost no margin — just barely enough time, space, money, or capacity.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ぎりぎりで間に合う: to just barely make it in time
- ぎりぎりまで: until the very last moment
- ぎりぎりの状態: at the limit, barely managing
- ぎりぎりセーフ: just barely safe/OK (casual)
- ぎりぎりアウト: just barely too late/out (casual)
USAGE:
Can function as an adverb (ぎりぎりで合格した), a na-adjective (予算がぎりぎりだ), or a noun modifier (ぎりぎりの生活 = barely getting by). Often implies stress, urgency, or cutting it close.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ぎりぎり: barely, at the limit (tight margin)
- かろうじて: barely, narrowly (more formal/literary)
- やっと: finally, with difficulty
Related Words
Synonym:
やっと (finally, with difficulty)