がっつく

がっつく
verb (godan, intransitive)
to eat greedily; to devour; to be desperate for
自動詞 intransitiveinformalspokenconsumption
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentがっつくがっつかない
Present politeがっつきますがっつきません
Pastがっついたがっつかなかった
Past politeがっつきましたがっつきませんでした
て formがっついてがっつかなくて
ている presentがっついているがっついていない
ている politeがっついていますがっついていません
ている pastがっついていたがっついていなかった
ている past politeがっついていましたがっついていませんでした
Conditional ばがっつけばがっつかなければ
Conditional たらがっついたらがっつかなかったら
Volitionalがっつこう
Volitional politeがっつきましょう
Potentialがっつけるがっつけない
Passiveがっつかれるがっつかれない
Causativeがっつかせるがっつかせない
Imperativeがっつけがっつくな
1. to eat greedily; to wolf down; to devour
To eat voraciously, without manners or restraint. Implies hunger or lack of self-control around food.
おなかすいてがっついて()べた
I was hungry and wolfed down my food.
そんながっつかないで、ゆっくり()なさい
Don't eat so greedily — eat slowly.
The kids were devouring the yakiniku since it had been a while.
2. to be desperate for; to be overly eager
To show excessive eagerness or desperation, especially regarding money, romantic attention, or opportunities. Carries a negative connotation of being too hungry or aggressive in pursuing something.
If you come on too strong, you'll turn people off.
People who are desperate for money aren't trusted.
Even though it was our first meeting, I was too eager and put them off.

Godan verb ( row): がっつく・がっつきます
て-form: がっついて
た-form: がっついた

Usage

Colloquial and somewhat rough. Not used in formal speech. The figurative sense (sense 2) is especially common among younger speakers, particularly in dating and social contexts where someone is perceived as too eager or desperate.

Similar words

  • (むさぼ): To devour, to covet greedily — more literary and intense.
  • がつがつする: Very similar meaning, also informal. Emphasizes the greedy manner.
  • ()いつく: To bite at, to jump at — can be used for eagerly seizing an opportunity.