カサカサ

かさかさ
adverb, onomatopoeia
dry and rough; rustling
onomatopoeia
1. dry and rough; parched; flaky
Describes the state of skin, lips, or surfaces that have become dry and rough, lacking moisture.
冬(ふゆ)になると肌(はだ)がカサカサになる。
In winter, my skin gets dry and rough.
唇(くちびる)がカサカサで痛(いた)い。
My lips are dry and cracked, and they hurt.
ハンドクリームを塗(ぬ)らないと手(て)がカサカサになってしまう。
If I don't apply hand cream, my hands get all dry and rough.
2. rustling; dry scratching sound
The sound made by dry leaves, paper, or other light, dry objects rubbing against each other.
落(お)ち葉(ば)がカサカサと音(おと)を立(た)てた。
The fallen leaves rustled.
紙(かみ)がカサカサと擦(す)れる音(おと)が聞(き)こえた。
I could hear the rustling sound of paper rubbing together.
草(くさ)むらでカサカサという音(おと)がして、小(ちい)さな虫(むし)が出(で)てきた。
There was a rustling sound in the grass, and a small bug came out.

カサカサ is an onomatopoeic/mimetic word (giongo/gitaigo). It can function as an adverb (カサカサと), a な-adjective (カサカサな肌(はだ)), or with する (カサカサする).

Sense 1 (dryness) is commonly used for skin care and weather-related talk. Sense 2 (rustling) imitates the actual sound of dry materials rubbing together.

Similar words

  • ガサガサ: rough, coarse — stronger and rougher than カサカサ; also used for rustling sounds (louder)
  • しっとり: moist, smooth — the opposite of カサカサ for skin
  • パリパリ: crispy, dry and cracking — for food or extremely dry surfaces

Related Words

Compare: がさがさ (rough, coarse)
Compare: しっとり (moist, smooth)
Compare: ぱりぱり (crispy, dry and cracking)
Compare: からから (dry)
Compare: ざらざら (rough)
general
Added 2026.3.12 11:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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