ぼこぼこ

ぼこぼこ
adverb
bumpy; dented; beaten up
1. bumpy; uneven; full of dents
Describes a surface with many bumps or dents.
この道(みち)はぼこぼこだ。
This road is bumpy.
車(くるま)がぼこぼこにへこんでいる。
The car is full of dents.
ぼこぼこの地面(じめん)で転(ころ)びそうになった。
I almost tripped on the bumpy ground.
2. beaten up; battered
Describes being thoroughly beaten or defeated.
ゲームでぼこぼこにされた。
I got completely beaten in the game.
Colloquial usage
試合(しあい)でぼこぼこにやられた。
I got totally beaten in the match.
ぼこぼこに殴(なぐ)られた車(くるま)のボンネット。
The car hood that was battered full of dents.

ぼこぼこ is an onomatopoeic word describing surfaces with many bumps or dents, and by extension, being badly beaten.

SENSE 1 — BUMPY/DENTED:

Describes a surface full of bumps, holes, or dents.

SENSE 2 — BEATEN BADLY:

Colloquial. Describes being thoroughly defeated or physically beaten.

  • ぼこぼこにする: to beat up badly, to thrash
  • ぼこぼこにされる: to get beaten badly (passive)
  • ぼこぼこにやられた: got totally destroyed

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • でこぼこ: uneven, bumpy (neutral, no violent connotation; often describes terrain)
  • ぼろぼろ: worn out, tattered, falling apart (describes deterioration over time)
  • ぐちゃぐちゃ: messy, crushed (emphasizes shapelessness)

REGISTER:
Both senses are informal/colloquial. The "beaten up" sense is particularly casual and common among younger speakers.

Related Words

Related: ぼろぼろ (worn out, tattered)
Related: ぐちゃぐちゃ (messy, crushed)
Related: でこぼこ (uneven, bumpy (neutral))
general
Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.6.6 4:07
05000/05362_bokoboko