がさごそ

がさごそ
adverb, onomatopoeia
rummaging; rustling noisily; scraping around
onomatopoeiadescriptive
1. rummaging noisily; making a rustling, scraping sound while searching
Mimetic word for the sound and action of digging or searching through things — such as rummaging in a bag, shuffling through papers, or moving through dry leaves. Suggests both the sound and the slightly messy, searching motion.
バッグの中(なか)をがさごそ探(さが)した。
I rummaged around noisily in the bag.
引(ひ)き出(だ)しの中(なか)をがさごそとかき回(まわ)して、やっとカギを見(み)つけた。
Rummaging noisily through the drawer, I finally found the key.
夜中(よなか)に誰(だれ)かが台所(だいどころ)でがさごそしている音(おと)が聞(き)こえた。
In the middle of the night, I heard someone making rustling sounds in the kitchen.

Mimetic word (擬音語) evoking the scraping, rustling sound of searching through things. A variant of がさがさ, which focuses more on a dry, rough texture. がさごそ specifically evokes the sounds of rummaging.

Common collocations

  • がさごそ探(さが)す: to rummage around looking for something
  • がさごそ音(おと)がする: to make a rustling rummaging sound
  • がさごそとかき回(まわ)す: to dig through noisily

Similar words

  • がさがさ: dry, rough rustling sound — more about texture (dry skin, rustling paper)
  • ごそごそ: rummaging, rustling (softer) — similar meaning but slightly softer sound
  • ごちゃごちゃ: cluttered, jumbled — focuses on messiness rather than sound

Related Words

Compare: がさがさ (dry, rough rustling sound)
Compare: ごそごそ (rummaging, rustling)
Compare: ごちゃごちゃ (cluttered, jumbled)
general
Added 2026.6.10 2:38 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
29000/29051_gasagoso