Ever crumpled a piece of paper in frustration?
Or seen someone’s face twist with emotion?
Or looked in the mirror to find your hair a mess?
That’s when the Japanese word “kusha kusha” (くしゃくしゃ) comes in —
a sound-and-feel expression for things that are wrinkled, messed up, or emotionally scrunched.
Let’s hear what it sounds like!
What is “Kusha Kusha” (くしゃくしゃ)?
Kusha kusha expresses something that is crumpled, wrinkled, or distorted — both in shape and in feeling.
It can describe:
- A wrinkled piece of paper
- Messy hair or a rumpled shirt
- A tearful or distorted facial expression
It’s often used in visual scenes with emotional impact or physical messiness.
Pronunciation
koo-shah koo-shah
(Soft “ku” sound, with a slight crunchiness on “sha” — say it like you’re crumpling something gently.)
Categories
Texture / Condition / Emotion / Visual
What Does “Kusha Kusha” Look Like?
It looks like a wrinkled letter clutched in someone’s hand.
Like bed hair after a nap.
Like a face contorted by laughter, sadness, or embarrassment.
How Do You Say It?
Say it with a soft crunch:
Kusha… kusha…
Crumple paper,
tousle your hair,
scrunch your face…
It’s all kusha kusha.
Examples in Daily Life
Example 1: Crumpled paper in anger
He read the rejection letter,
then crushed it in his hand —
kusha kusha…
Example 2: Bed hair in the morning
She looked in the mirror and laughed,
her hair was all over the place —
kusha kusha!
Cultural Note
In English, you might say:
- “Crumpled”
- “Wrinkled”
- “Messy”
- “Scrunched up”
But in Japanese, kusha kusha conveys not only the texture or look —
but also the emotion behind the mess.
It feels soft, familiar, and sometimes even a little cute.
Watch & Feel the “Kusha Kusha” World!
Feel the “Kusha Kusha” — Crushed Face
Try Using It!
When your shirt is full of wrinkles…
When your hair is a mess in the morning…
When someone cries with their face all scrunched…
Say it out loud:
Kusha kusha〜
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