ぐいぐい

ぐいぐい
adverb, onomatopoeia
forcefully; aggressively; with gusto
informalmannerforce
1. forcefully; with force; vigorously
Describes pulling, pushing, or doing something with physical force and determination.
I pulled the rope hard.
ビールぐいぐい()んだ
I gulped down the beer.
(かれ)人混(ひとご)ぐいぐい()()けて(まえ)(すす)んだ
He pushed his way forcefully through the crowd.
2. aggressively; persistently; pushily
Describes approaching something or someone with assertive, relentless energy. Often used for someone who is pushy or forward in social situations.
I'm not good with pushy people.
She aggressively closes the distance.
It's reassuring that even though they're a newcomer, they assertively speak their mind.

An onomatopoeic adverb (擬態語(ぎたいご)) that conveys the sense of forceful, repeated action. The doubled form emphasizes persistence and strength. Can have either positive (energetic, assertive) or negative (pushy, aggressive) connotations depending on context.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • ぐんぐん: rapidly, steadily — emphasizes speed of progress rather than force
  • がぶがぶ: gulping — specifically for drinking large amounts
  • ずんずん: marching forward — emphasizes forward momentum
  • がんがん: aggressively, intensely — stronger, often for sound or headaches too