げっそり

• Reading: げっそり
• Romaji: gessori
• Pronunciation: /ɡes.so.ɾi/

Meaning

Looking gaunt or haggard; losing weight noticeably. Also feeling deeply disheartened or disappointed.

A mimetic adverb (擬態語) with two related meanings: (1) a visible loss of weight or vitality, making someone look thin and worn, as in げっそり痩せる (to become gaunt), and (2) a feeling of deep discouragement or dismay, as in げっそりする (to be disheartened). Both senses share the image of energy or substance being drained away. Used with する to form a suru-verb.

Examples

1. 入院中にげっそり痩せてしまった。 I lost a lot of weight and looked gaunt during my hospital stay.
2. 何度も同じ失敗を繰り返されてげっそりした。 Watching the same mistakes repeated over and over again really wore me down.
3. 彼は病気でげっそりと頬がこけていた。 He was sick, and his cheeks had become hollow and gaunt.

Usage Guide

Context: health, daily life, emotional reactions

Tone: concerned

Origin & History

A Japanese mimetic word (擬態語) evoking the visual impression of flesh falling away or hollowing out. The sharp げっ onset and trailing り suggest a sudden, noticeable change in appearance or mood.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal