ギザギザ

ぎ

ざ

ぎ

ざ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

notches; serration; jagged edge

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Refers to a zigzag or saw-tooth pattern, often on a physical edge or surface. Also used for the stair-step aliasing artifact in digital images (jaggies).

このナイフの刃ははギザギザになっている。
The blade of this knife is serrated.

画が像ぞうを拡かく大だいするとギザギザが目め立だつ。

When you enlarge the image, the jaggies become noticeable.

na-adjective, adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

notched; serrated; jagged

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Describes something having a notched, serrated, or jagged shape. Can be used adjectivally (ギザギザな) or adverbially (ギザギザに切る).

ギザギザな葉はっぱの植しょく物ぶつを見みつけた。
I found a plant with jagged leaves.
紙かみをギザギザに切きって飾かざりを作つくった。
I cut the paper into a zigzag shape and made a decoration.

Written forms

ギザギザUsage63%
kana-only spelling
Standard katakana spelling for this mimetic word; usually written in kana.
ぎざぎざUsage38%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
刻ぎざ々ぎざ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
段ぎざ々ぎざ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
刻ぎざ刻ぎざ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
段ぎざ段ぎざ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.

Kanji

刻engrave, cut fine, chop
段grade, steps, stairs

Similar words

でこぼこ
でこぼこ describes an uneven, bumpy surface (like a rough road), while ギザギザ specifically refers to a notched or serrated edge pattern.
ぎざぎざ
Same word in hiragana; no difference in meaning, but katakana is more common for this mimetic word.

Etymology

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it likely imitates the sound or appearance of a jagged, saw-tooth pattern.