ぶつぶつ

ぶつぶつ
adverb
muttering; grumbling; bumpy
descriptive
1. muttering; grumbling; complaining under one's breath
Speaking in a low voice, often in complaint.
ぶつぶつ文句(もんく)を言(い)う。
To mutter complaints.
彼(かれ)は何(なに)かぶつぶつ言(い)っていた。
He was muttering something.
ぶつぶつ言(い)わないで、早(はや)くやりなさい。
Stop grumbling and do it quickly.
2. bumpy; covered with small bumps
Describes a surface with many small bumps.
肌(はだ)にぶつぶつが出(で)た。
Bumps appeared on my skin.
Noun usage for skin bumps
虫(むし)に刺(さ)されてぶつぶつが出(で)た。
I got bumps from insect bites.
腕(うで)にぶつぶつができて痒(かゆ)い。
I have bumps on my arm and they're itchy.

ぶつぶつ is an onomatopoeic word with two distinct meanings: (1) the sound of grumbling/muttering, and (2) a texture of small bumps, especially on skin.

COMMON PATTERNS (muttering):

COMMON PATTERNS (bumps):

Noun usage

When referring to skin bumps, ぶつぶつ functions as a noun: 肌(はだ)にぶつぶつが出(で)た (bumps appeared on my skin). Casual alternative to 発疹(はっしん) (rash).

Similar words

  • ぼそぼそ: mumbling quietly (less complaining)
  • ぶつぶつ: implies dissatisfaction or complaint
  • つぶつぶ: grainy texture (small grains, not bumps)

Related Words

Related: ぼそぼそ (mumbling quietly)
Related: つぶつぶ (grainy texture)
Compare: ぶうぶう (grumbling)
general
Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
05000/05364_butsubutsu