しょぼしょぼ
しょぼしょぼ
adverb, onomatopoeia
bleary, droopy (eyes); drizzling lightly
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.
目がしょぼしょぼする。
My eyes feel bleary/tired.
徹夜で目がしょぼしょぼだ。
My eyes are bleary from staying up all night.
花粉で目がしょぼしょぼして辛い。
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.
雨がしょぼしょぼ降っている。
It's drizzling lightly.
しょぼしょぼとした雨が続く。
The light drizzle continues.
朝からしょぼしょぼ降っていて気が滅入る。
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:
- 目がしょぼしょぼする (eyes feel bleary)
- しょぼしょぼ降る (to drizzle)
- しょぼしょぼした + noun
Related words:
- しょぼい: shabby, pathetic (related adjective)
- しとしと: pitter-patter (gentle rain)
- ぽつぽつ: scattered drops