へろへろ
へろへろ
adverb / na-adjective
exhausted, worn out, wobbly
1.
exhausted, worn out, drained
Describes a state of extreme tiredness where one can barely function.
仕事でへろへろだ。
I'm exhausted from work.
マラソンを走ってへろへろになった。
I was completely wiped out after running the marathon.
残業続きでへろへろの状態だ。
I'm worn out from continuous overtime.
2.
wobbly, unsteady, weak
Describes something or someone that is weak, floppy, or lacking firmness.
足がへろへろで歩けない。
My legs are so wobbly I can't walk.
暑さで野菜がへろへろになった。
The vegetables went all limp from the heat.
酔っ払ってへろへろで帰ってきた。
They came home drunk and wobbly.
へろへろ is an expressive mimetic word (onomatopoeia) that vividly conveys a state of complete exhaustion or weakness.
The sound evokes something floppy and lacking energy. It's often used:
- After intense physical activity
- After long work hours
- When drunk and unsteady
- For wilted vegetables or limp objects
Similar expressions:
- くたくた: exhausted, worn out
- ぐったり: limp, completely drained
- よれよれ: worn out, shabby