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(でんしゃ)に間(ま)に合(あ)った。
I just barely made it on time for the train.
締(し)め切(き)りぎりぎりに提出(ていしゅつ)した。
I submitted it right at the deadline.
試験(しけん)にぎりぎりで合格(ごうかく)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(よさん)がぎりぎりだ。
The budget is at its limit.
ガソリンがぎりぎりで心配(しんぱい)だ。
The gas is almost empty and I'm worried.
スーツケースに荷物(にもつ)をぎりぎりまで詰(つ)めたので、閉(し)めるのが大変(たいへん)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(ぎたいご)) that expresses having almost no margin — just barely enough time, space, money, or capacity.

COMMON PATTERNS:

USAGE:
Can function as an adverb (ぎりぎりで合格(ごうかく)した), a na-adjective (予算(よさん)がぎりぎりだ), or a noun modifier (ぎりぎりの生活(せいかつ) = 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)
general
Added 2026.1.16 12:17 · Revised 2026.6.5 3:09
05000/05166_girigiri