ごつごつ

ごつごつ
adverb, onomatopoeia
rugged; bumpy; bony
descriptiveappearancebody-part
1. rugged; bumpy; rough
describes an uneven, rough surface with bumps and protrusions
ごつごつした岩(いわ)を登(のぼ)る。
To climb rugged rocks.
この道(みち)はごつごつしていて歩(ある)きにくい。
This road is bumpy and hard to walk on.
2. bony; angular
describes a person or body part that is thin with bones or joints showing prominently
彼(かれ)はごつごつした大(おお)きな手(て)をしている。
He has large, bony hands.
ごつごつした指(ゆび)でピアノを弾(ひ)く。
To play the piano with bony fingers.

A mimetic word (擬態語(ぎたいご)) describing hard, uneven surfaces with sharp protrusions, or a person's bony, angular build.

SENSE 1 — RUGGED SURFACE:

SENSE 2 — BONY/ANGULAR:

Similar words

  • でこぼこ: uneven, bumpy (general unevenness, less hard/sharp)
  • ぼこぼこ: full of dents, beaten up
  • がりがり: skinny, scrawny (emphasizes thinness)
  • ごつい: rugged, bulky, tough (i-adjective form, colloquial)

ごつごつ has a harder, more angular feel than でこぼこ, which describes gentler unevenness.

Related Words

Compare: ぼこぼこ (full of dents, beaten up)
Compare: がりがり (skinny, scrawny)
general
Added 2026.1.27 9:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
08000/08432_gotsugotsu