ガクガク
がくがく
adverb, onomatopoeia
shaking, trembling
1.
shaking, trembling, wobbling
Describes uncontrollable shaking or trembling, typically of the knees or legs from fear, exhaustion, or cold.
膝がガクガクする。
My knees are shaking.
怖くて足がガクガク震えた。
My legs trembled with fear.
マラソンの後、疲れて膝がガクガクになった。
After the marathon, I was so tired that my knees were wobbling.
ガクガク is an onomatopoeic word describing involuntary, jerky trembling of joints — especially knees and legs. It implies a coarse, unsteady shaking rather than fine shivering.
COMMON CAUSES:
- 恐怖 (fear)
- 疲労 (exhaustion)
- 寒さ (cold)
- 緊張 (nervousness)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 膝がガクガクする: knees are shaking
- 足がガクガク震える: legs tremble
- ガクガクになる: to become wobbly/shaky
- 体がガクガクする: body is shaking
CONTRAST:
- ブルブル: shivering (from cold or fear, whole-body trembling)
- ガタガタ: rattling, chattering (teeth chattering, objects rattling)
- プルプル: quivering slightly (lighter, sometimes cute nuance)