ぎりぎり
girigiri[ɡʲiɾʲiɡʲiɾʲi]
The English phrase 'last minute' can be expressed in Japanese using ぎりぎり (girigiri).
ぎりぎり is used to describe a situation that is barely achieved or happens at the very last possible moment. It often carries a sense of tension or the feeling of being 'just in time'. Other related expressions include 間一髪, which refers to narrowly avoiding something or achieving something in the nick of time and ギリギリセーフ, which conveys the meaning of a last-minute save or barely making it in time.
Meaning: very close to a deadline (adj)
Which one should you use?
土壇場 is used specifically to describe a situation where something is decided or done hastily at the very last minute.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use ぎりぎり as an adjective to modify a noun, such as 'a last-minute decision', you add the particle の to form ぎりぎりの.
How do you pronounce it?
girigiri
Did you know?
- The word ぎりぎり is an onomatopoeia that mimics the sound of something grinding or scraping together. It evokes the feeling of two things rubbing against each other with almost no space left between them.
- In a high-stakes situation, you might hear 間一髪 (kan-ippatsu), which literally translates to 'the space of one hair' to describe a near-miss.
- The phrase ギリギリセーフ is actually a form of 'Wasei-eigo', or Japanese-made English, which combines the Japanese word ギリギリ with the English word 'safe'.
Examples in context
- 私はぎりぎりになるまで先延ばしにしていた。I waited until the last minute.This sentence is useful for describing how someone waited until the last minute using ぎりぎり.Tatoeba #76088 by bunbuku, translation #327630 by CK
- 締め切り間際です。手続きをお願いしますIt's almost the deadline. Please proceed with the paperwork.
- 電車にぎりぎりで乗れました。densha ni girigiri de noremashita.I caught the train at the last minute.
- 提出期限がぎりぎりです。teishutsu kigen ga girigiri desu.The submission deadline is very close.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are talking about a project submission.
- 美咲 Misakiレポートはもう出した？repooto wa mou dashita?Did you already submit the report?
- 健太 Kenta昨日の夜、ぎりぎりに出したよ。kinou no yoru, girigiri ni dashita yo.I submitted it at the last minute last night.
- 美咲 Misakiすごいね。間に合ってよかった。sugoi ne. maniautte yokatta.That's brave. I'm glad you made it in time.
- 健太 Kenta本当に焦ったよ。hontou ni asetta yo.I was really panicking.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ぎりぎり, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
