ばさばさ

ばさばさ
adverb
rustling; flapping; dry and disheveled
1. flapping; rustling (of wings, paper, cloth)
The sound or motion of dry, light material moving in the air — a bird's wings flapping, papers being shuffled, or a curtain rustling in a breeze.
(とり)がばさばさと(はね)(うご)かした。
The bird flapped its wings noisily.
書類(しょるい)をばさばさと(つくえ)()いた。
He plopped the documents noisily onto the desk.
(つよ)(かぜ)洗濯物(せんたくもの)がばさばさと(おと)()てて()れていた。
In the strong wind, the laundry flapped and rustled noisily.
2. dry and unkempt; frizzy; disheveled (especially of hair)
Describes hair, fur, or grass that is dry, rough, and lacks moisture or care. Almost always negative — implies neglect or poor condition.
(かみ)がばさばさだ。
My hair is dry and frizzy.
乾燥(かんそう)(はだ)(かみ)もばさばさになってしまった。
From the dryness, both my skin and hair have become rough and unkempt.
何日(なんにち)(かみ)(あら)わなかったら、ばさばさになって(くし)(とお)らなくなった。
After not washing my hair for several days, it got so dry and tangled that a comb wouldn't go through.

Onomatopoeia for the sound or feel of dry, light material — wings, paper, cloth, or coarse hair.

SENSE 1 — SOUND/MOTION:

  • (はね)をばさばささせる: to flap wings
  • ばさばさと(おと)()てる: to make a rustling sound

SENSE 2 — DRY HAIR/TEXTURE:

  • (かみ)がばさばさ: hair is dry and frizzy
  • ばさばさの(かみ): dry, unkempt hair

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ぱさぱさ: dry, crumbly (especially of dry food or hair) — less coarse, more powdery-dry
  • がさがさ: rough, chapped (skin); also rustling — emphasizes rough texture
  • ばたばた: flapping with a heavier, more solid sound; also 'busy and rushed'