ぎこちなくなる

ぎこちなくなる
expression
to turn awkward; to become stiff or stilted
1. to turn awkward; to become stiff (in movement or speech)
The adverbial form of the i-adjective ぎこちない (awkward, clumsy) plus なる. Describes a shift from natural to unnatural — often in conversation, body language, or movement when someone gets self-conscious.
急(きゅう)に口調(くちょう)がぎこちなくなった。
His tone suddenly turned awkward.
カメラを向(む)けられると笑顔(えがお)がぎこちなくなる。
My smile gets stiff whenever a camera is pointed at me.
あの話題(わだい)が出(で)てから、二人(ふたり)の関係(かんけい)は少(すこ)しぎこちなくなった。
After that topic came up, the two of them grew a little awkward with each other.

Formed from the i-adjective ぎこちない (awkward, clumsy, stilted) by replacing 〜い with 〜くなる (the standard 'become Adj' pattern). Used both physically and socially.

TYPICAL SUBJECTS:

  • Speech and tone: 口調(くちょう)、言葉遣(ことばづか)い、会話(かいわ)
  • Body language: 笑顔(えがお)、動(うご)き、歩(ある)き方(かた)
  • Relationships: 関係(かんけい)、雰囲気(ふんいき)

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 気(き)まずくなる: to become awkward (socially) — emphasizes mutual discomfort, not stiffness of movement
  • 不自然(ふしぜん)になる: to become unnatural — broader and more neutral
  • 硬(かた)くなる: to stiffen up — used of nervous body language, often interchangeable
general
Added 2026.6.3 13:17
28500/28665_gikochinakunaru