すれすれ

す

れ

す

れ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

grazing; skimming; almost touching

usually written using kana alone

Describes something passing extremely close to a surface or object, often with a sense of near-contact. Used as a noun or adjectival noun (〜の/〜な).

鳥とりが水すい面めんすれすれを飛とんでいた。
A bird was flying just above the water's surface.

車くるまが壁かべすれすれに止とまっていた。

The car was parked almost touching the wall.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

barely; narrowly; by a slim margin

usually written using kana alone

Indicates that a limit or threshold was barely met or avoided, often used with numbers or standards. Common in expressions like 合格すれすれ (barely passed) or 締め切りすれすれ (just before the deadline).

彼かれは合ごう格かく点てんすれすれで試し験けんに受うかった。
He passed the exam by a slim margin.
締しめ切きりすれすれにレポートを提てい出しゅつした。
I submitted the report just before the deadline.

Written forms

すれすれUsage85%
Usually written in kana. The kanji forms 擦れ擦れ and 摩れ摩れ are rare.
スレスレUsage15%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling used for emphasis or in informal writing.
擦すれ擦すれUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
摩すれ摩すれ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.

Kanji

擦grate, rub, scratch
摩chafe, rub, polish

Similar words

ぎりぎり
ぎりぎり is more common for time or quantity limits (e.g., ぎりぎり間に合う), while すれすれ emphasizes near-contact or barely meeting a standard.

Etymology

Reduplication of the verb stem 擦れ (sure, 'to rub, graze'), emphasizing repeated or close contact. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the form is a mimetic-like adverbial noun.