しょぼしょぼ

しょぼしょぼ
adverb, onomatopoeia
bleary, droopy (eyes); drizzling lightly
spokenweatheronomatopoeia
1. bleary, droopy, tired-looking (eyes)
Describes eyes that are half-closed or watery due to tiredness, age, or fatigue. Conveys a weary, sleepy, or worn-out appearance.
目(め)がしょぼしょぼする。
My eyes feel bleary/tired.
徹夜(てつや)で目(め)がしょぼしょぼだ。
My eyes are bleary from staying up all night.
花粉(かふん)で目(め)がしょぼしょぼして辛(つら)い。
My eyes are watery and irritated from pollen - it's miserable.
2. drizzling, raining lightly
Describes light, continuous rain that falls weakly. Conveys a gloomy, dispiriting atmosphere.
雨(あめ)がしょぼしょぼ降(ふ)っている。
It's drizzling lightly.
しょぼしょぼとした雨(あめ)が続(つづ)く。
The light drizzle continues.
朝(あさ)からしょぼしょぼ降(ふ)っていて気(き)が滅入(めい)る。
It's been drizzling since morning and it's depressing.

しょぼしょぼ is a mimetic word (オノマトペ) that describes weak, droopy, or dispiriting states.

**Sense 1: Eyes**
Very commonly used for tired or irritated eyes. Causes include:

  • Lack of sleep
  • Eye strain from screens
  • Allergies or dry eyes
  • Crying

**Sense 2: Rain**
Describes weak, continuous rain that creates a gloomy mood. Different from しとしと (gentle, steady rain) which has a more neutral or even pleasant connotation.

Grammatical patterns

Related words

general
Added 2026.2.2 0:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
09000/09454_shoboshobo