ゴリゴリ

ごりごり
adverb, na-adjective, onomatopoeia
aggressively, hardcore; grinding, scraping
informalspokenonomatopoeia
1. grinding, scraping, crunchy
The sound or sensation of something hard being ground, scraped, or chewed with a rough texture.
ゴリゴリ(おと)する
There's a grinding sound.
(かた)ゴリゴリほぐす
I loosen up the stiff knots in my shoulders.
I crunched on ice and ate it.
2. aggressively, intensely, hardcore
Doing something in a forceful, uncompromising, or extremely dedicated way. Colloquial and emphatic.
ゴリゴリ理系(りけい)だ。
He's a hardcore science person.
He works out like crazy.
He's a hardcore salesman who makes dozens of calls every day.

ゴリゴリ is an onomatopoeia with both a literal sound/texture meaning and a colloquial figurative meaning.

SENSE 1 (grinding/scraping):
Describes a rough, hard grinding or crunching sensation.

SENSE 2 (aggressively/hardcore):
Colloquial usage meaning extremely intense or uncompromising.

  • ゴリゴリ + noun: a hardcore ~, an extreme ~
  • ゴリゴリ + verb: intensely, aggressively
  • This usage is informal and common among younger speakers.

Related onomatopoeia

  • ガリガリ: scraping, scratching; extremely thin (person)
  • バリバリ: energetically, enthusiastically (working hard)
  • ゴシゴシ: scrubbing hard