Basic
What is Onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia are any words, expressions or phrases that aim to imitate or recreate a sound or feeling. Sounds like “moo moo” for a cow, or “vroom vroom” for a car. Japanese takes this to a whole new level, though. In Japanese, the onomatopoeia have a lot of nuance to express sounds of animals, nature, and inanimate objects, as well as feelings and movement. The five types of Japanese onomatopoeia are:
- Giongo - 擬音語: Sounds made by non-living things, like cars or the wind.
- Gitaigo - 擬態語: Sounds that describe states of being, like feeling sticky with sweat or muggy weather.
- Giseigo - 擬声語: Sounds from living things, like animals and people.
- Giyougo - 擬容語: Sounds that express descriptive movement that we would normally think of as verbs in English. Expressions like falling into deep sleep or walking around without purpose.
- Gijougo - 擬情語: Describe feelings, like a shiver down your spine when you get an eerie feeling.
Giseigo and giongo are just like onomatopoeia we have in English. The cow goes moo. The machine is whirring. They represent real sounds you can hear. The other three describe what's called mimetic words, or ideophones. They describe or represent something that has no sound. The way you feel, the way you walk, and even your skin has an onomatopoeia to describe it. These mimetic words don't really exist in English, which makes mastering them difficult when learning Japanese.
Formation
Japanese onomatopoeic expressions have several grammatical forms:
- Double form - Reduplication: わくわく (wakuwaku, excited), ぺらぺら (perapera, fluently speaking). This form expresses a continuing state of the sound or feeling, like how you speak fluently the whole time you have a conversation, or you feel excited for quite a while. When it’s doubled and the vowel is lengthened, it means the sound drags on, like グーグー (gu- gu-, snoring). The reduplication of a sound symbolizes repetition in sound or action. In Japanese this is called jougo 畳語. You've probably seen this in other places in Japanese with the iteration mark 々 in words like: sometimes 時々, various 色々 and people kanji 人々. In onomatopoeia they usually refer to something that's happening over and over.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| ばらばら | heavy rain drops or hail coming down |
| わさわさ | grass and leaves rustling in the wind |
| ごぼごぼ | gushing water |
| だだだだ | something running at full speed |
| ごろごろ | something rolling loudly or heavily |
- と form - Ending in っ (+ と): はっと (hatto, gasp), ぞっと (zotto, shivers down your spine). This form expresses a sound that is short, quick, and cut off. Like how a gasp comes out quickly or the shivers down your spine last only a second. Although the rules of Japanese state that all sounds must end in a vowel (expect ん) because of the syllabary nature of the language, onomatopoeia are often pronounced with an abrupt stop. This is expressed in written language with a っ and is called a glottal stop. This is what we call a sound made by stopping air in your glottis (it's in your throat). The best way to hear it in English is to say "uh-uh." Some of these will be followed by the particle と in a sentence (but not all of them!). They usually refer to a sound that stopped suddenly or abruptly.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| ごくっ | gulp |
| げっ | vomiting or gagging |
| かっ | coughing up something |
| ぼーっ | a flame flaring up suddenly |
| がばっ | suddenly waking up |
- り form - Ending in り: のそり (nosori, to walk lazily), しょんぼり (shonbori, crestfallen, dejected). り form is used when the sound or action is slow and drawn out. It’s the opposite of と form, like how you walk slowly or feel dejected for a while. The onomatopoeia form ending in り conveys a feeling of softness or slowness. It's basically the opposite of a glottal stop. It's something long, or deliberate, not short or abrupt.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| ぽっちゃり | chubby |
| のらりのらり | wander around aimlessly |
| じゃくり | scooping something like sand |
| ほっかり | warm breath or steam |
| のそり | moving slowly and sluggishly |
- Ending in ん: Onomatopoeia that end in ん are pronounced with a nasal sound, producing a feeling of "prolonged resonance" or rhythm. If something is echoing or ringing it will usually end in ん. When describing a state of being, not a sound, it usually means something that's continuous.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| ごほん | a strong cough |
| こんこん | something hitting something else over and over |
| しん | cold deeply penetrating your body |
| じゃぶん | strong bubbling |
| ぼーん | an explosive fire bursting into flames |
- Long Vowels: Words that end in long vowels refer to a sense of continuation or longness. Something is happening and it's happening for a long time.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| ふわ～ | a long yawn |
| ぐーぐー | loud snoring |
| ざーざー | heavy, continuous pouring rain |
| ちゅーちゅー | drinking something down little by little |
| のーのー | enjoying yourself without caring about what's around you |
Usage
Adverbs + と
When paired with と before a verb, they become an adverb.
| 例文 | 訳 |
|---|---|
| 突然、風がビュンビュンと吹き始めた。 | Suddenly, the roaring wind began overhead. |
| 朝の太陽が、おっとりと雪原を照らしていた。 | The morning sun was gently shining on a snowy field. |
| 雷がごろごろと鳴り始めた。 | Thunder started rumbling. |
| 波が岩肌に、ざざっと打ち寄せた。 | The waves crashed into the rocks. |
| 火が風に煽られ、一瞬、ぼっと燃え上がった。 | The fire was fueled by the wind and momentarily flared up. |
| ぼつぼつと降り始めた雨は、すぐにざーっと勢いを増した。 | The rain, which had started coming down here and there, suddenly poured down. |
Quotation + と
They can also be used to quote someone making that noise, like a laugh:
| 例文 | 訳 |
|---|---|
| テレビを見ている間、旦那さはゲラゲラと笑いました。 | While watching TV, my husband laughed loudly. |
| みんなにアハハと笑われた。 | Everyone laughed, "Ahaha!" |
| ゴキブリを見て、思わず「ギャー！」と叫んだ。 | I saw a cockroach and reflexively screamed, "Gyaa!" |
に (ni) before a verb
Sometimes the onomatopoeia use に (ni) before a verb, especially when describing a state or condition. It makes the verb more descriptive, like:
| 例文 | 訳 |
|---|---|
| 母はカンカンに怒りました。 | My mom was furious. |
| シャツがびしょびしょに濡れてしまった。 | My shirt got drenched. |
| この道、がたがたになってるね。 | This road is getting bumpy, isn't it? |
| あの日は、久しぶりにべろんべろんに酔っ払ったよ。 | That day I got completely smashed for the first time in a while. |
| お気に入りのシャツがぼろぼろになってしまった。 | My favorite shirt is getting worn out. |
| レッドブルを飲んだからぎんぎんに目が冴えてるよ。 | I'm wide awake because I drank a Red Bull. |
into a verb with やる (yaru) or する (suru)
You can also turn onomatopoeia into a verb with やる (yaru) or する (suru), both of which mean “to do” or “to be in a state of.”
| 例文 | 訳 |
|---|---|
| 明日はとても難しいテストがあるので、ドキドキする。 | I have a big test tomorrow, so I feel nervous. |
| 汗で下着がじめじめしていて気持ちが悪い。 | My underwear is soaked in sweat and it feels gross. |
| 知らないうちに、うとうとしていた。 | Before I knew it, I was nodding off. |
| 私の母は、いつもせかせかしていた。 | My mom is always fidgeting. |
| なんだか、喉がいがいがする。 | My throat is a little irritated. |
| 親友が引っ越して、しょんぼりしているのさ。 | A close friend of mine is moving and I feel miserable. |
| がんがんやっちまおうぜ。 | Let's get moving! |
| たまにはこうやってみんなで集まってわいわいやるのもいいよね。 | It's nice to get together with everyone and be raucous like this sometimes. |
| この問題集なら、さくさくやれちゃいました。 | These workbook problems have been coming along nicely. |
| 時間がないんだから、ちゃきちゃきやってくれよ！ | We don't have much time, so let's give it our all! |
| あそこでがやがややってるのが、俺のつれだよ。 | Those guys crowding around over there are my buddies. |
use の to describe a noun
And like other grammatical structures with adjectives or nouns modifying nouns, you can use の to describe a noun:
| 例文 | 訳 |
|---|---|
| 今日はむしむしの日ね。 | Today’s weather is humid, huh? |
| ほかほかの肉まんが食べたいなあ。 | I wanna eat steamy manju. |
| こんなにさらさらの砂、初めて見た！ | This is the first time I've seen powdery sand! |
| 彼女はばりばりのキャリアウーマンだからね。 | She's a hard working career woman. |
| 自分のぶよぶよのお腹を見ると悲しくなる。 | I get sad when I look at my flabby stomach. |
| その勇者は、とてもかっこいいきんぴかの剣を持っていました。 | The hero had a really cool gilded sword. |
Copula だ
| 例文 | 訳 |
|---|---|
| もう西瓜はうんざりだ。 | I'm already sick of watermelon. |
| 今日の気分はるんるんだぜー。 | Today I'm feeling ecstatic! |
| このまくら、ぐにゃぐにゃだぜ？ | Is this pillow squishy? |
| 徹夜続きでくたくただ。 | I'm exhausted from being up all night. |
| 赤ちゃんの手はぷくぷくだ。 | The baby's hands are cute and chubby. |
擬声語 - Animal Sound Effects (Giseigo)
Let’s learn some cool animal sound effects – like how to say roar in Japanese! (It’s ガオー, gao-)
| Animal | Japanese Sound | English Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Bear | がおー | Roar |
| Bee | ぶーん | Buzz |
| Bird | ちゅんちゅん | Tweet |
| Cat | にゃん | Meow |
| Chicken | こけこっこ | Cluck |
| Cow | もーもー | Moo |
| Crow | かーかー | Caw |
| Dog | わんわん | Woof |
| Duck | がーがー | Quack |
| Fox | こんこん | ¯(ツ)/¯ |
| Frog | げろげろ | Croak, Ribbit |
| Godzilla | がおー | Roar |
| Horse | ひひいん | Neigh |
| Monkey | うきうき | Oo oo aa aa |
| Mouse | ちゅーちゅー | Squeak |
| Owl | ほーほー | Hoo |
| Pig | ぶーぶー | Oink |
| Sheep | めーめー | Baa |
擬声語 - People Sound Effects (Giseigo)
What kind of sound effects do people make? All kinds! Learn creative ways to express your actions, like how to say “cry” in Japanese. (Try ギャアギャア, gyaagyaa, “to wail or cry loudly”, or シクシク, shikushiku, “to whimper or cry softly”).
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| コホンコホン (kohon kohon) | A light cough |
| ぐうぐう (guu guu) | Snoring loudly |
| クシュ (kushu) | Sneezing |
| ワイワイ (wai wai) | Children playing, or a group of people talking noisily |
| コソコソ (kosokoso) | Secret whispering |
| キャー (kya-): Screaming | |
| ズルズル (zuru zuru) | Slurping loudly |
| ニコニコ (niko niko) | To smile (at something funny) |
| ジロジロ (jiro jiro) | To stare intently |
| ガブガブ (gabu gabu) | To guzzle a drink |
| シクシク (shikushiku) | to whimper or cry softly |
| ギャアギャア (gyaagyaa) | to wail or cry loudly |
| がみがみ | Being lectured or nagged by someone above you |
| あはは | A cheerful, loud laugh |
| うわーん | A child crying loudly |
| うぎゃー | A surprised scream or shriek |
| うふふ | Chuckling like you have a secret |
| ぺちゃくちゃ | Chatting about frivolous things |
| ごにょごにょ | Muttering so other people can't hear you |
| ぺらぺら | Being able to speak a foreign language fluently |
| おほん | Clearing your throat for attention |
| くすくす | Laughing quietly, unable to hold it in |
擬音語 - Inanimate Sound Effects (Giongo)
These are also real sounds. They're the ones you see used in manga and anime. They're the sound of the wind moving through the trees, the door slamming shut, and the phone ringing. Basically, any sound you hear that isn't coming out of the mouth of a person or animal falls under this category.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| パラパラ (para para) | Light, scattered rain, or flipping through the pages of a book. |
| リンリン (rin rin) | The sound of ringing, like a bicycle bell ring |
| コンコン (kon kon) | Knocking |
| ゴボゴボ (gobo gobo) | Gushing water |
| ガタンガトン (gatan gaton) | The sound of a train clacking along |
| ガシャン (gashan) | Crash |
| カタカタ (kata kata) | Click-clack, or typing |
| サワサワ (sawa sawa) | Rustling |
| ごろごろ | Thunder rumbling or large objects rolling loudly |
| ざーざー | Lots of heavy rain pouring down |
| ぱたぱた | Cloth lightly flapping in the wind |
| ぴゅーぴゅー | Strong, continuous, and cold wintry winds |
| ばしゃっ | Water scattering, splashing forcefully |
| こぽこぽ | Water bubbling gently |
| めらめら | Suddenly bursting into flames |
| さくさく | Stepping on soft dirt or sand |
| たたたた | Running at full speed |
擬態語 - States or Conditions (Gitaigo)
How do you describe the feeling of something or a state you’re in, like sweating (カラカラ, kara kara)? What about how to say fluffy in Japanese? (フワフワ, fuwafuwa — it’s also furry, or fleece.)
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| キラキラ (kirakira) | Sparkling |
| ぎらぎら | A glint in your eyes |
| グルグル (guru guru) | Dizzy |
| ぺとぺと (peto peto) | Feeling sticky with sweat |
| カラカラ (kara kara) | Sweating |
| びっしょり (bisshori) | To be soaked |
| ピカピカ (pika pika) | To shine |
| ピリピリ (piri piri) | Spicy, hot sensation |
| ダラダラ (dara dara) | Lazily |
| フワフワ (fuwafuwa) | Fluffy, furry, or fleece |
| ほかほか | A warm body or food |
| むしむし | Too much warmth, unpleasantly hot |
| べとべと | Sticky with sweat or blood |
| びしょびしょ | Horribly soaked by a large amount of water |
| がたがた | A road that isn't paved |
| でこぼこ | Uneven ground |
| さんさん | Lots of shining sunlight |
| ひんやり | Feeling cool |
| じんわり | Soaking slowly with sweat or tears |
擬情語 - Emotions and Feelings (Gijougo)
Are you feeling ドキドキ (dokidoki, heart racing with excitement or nervousness)? Or ウキウキ (ukiuki, “cheerful”)? Express your inner feelings with more color!
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| むかむか (muka muka) | Nauseous |
| いらいら (ira ira) | To be irritated |
| びっくり (bikkuri) | Shocked, surprised |
| のろのろ (noro noro) | To feel lazy |
| ぼろぼろ (boro boro) | To feel mentally drained |
| ぞっと (zotto) | To have a chill go down your spine, usually from a gross or scared feeling |
| むすっ (musu-t) | Pouting |
| るんるん (run run) | Humming happily |
| やきもき (yakimoki) | So worried that you can’t calm down |
| むくむく (mukumuku) | Thinking up an idea, inspiration hits |
| くよくよ | Worrying about the past or trivial things |
| しんみり | Lonely and quiet, solemn |
| うきうき | Happy, cheerfully lighthearted, and full of hope |
| わくわく | Excited from anticipation, pleasure, or happiness |
| あたふた | Running around in a hurry |
| あわあわ | Losing time or a grasp on your senses |
| もじもじ | Unable to make decisions because of embarrassment or shyness |
| うっとり | Being fascinated by something beautiful, spellbound |
| ずきずき | Throbbing, grinding pain |
| もやもや | Worrying or wondering what to do |
擬容語 - Movement (Giyougo)
What does running sound like in Japanese? (だだだだだ, dadadadada) Let’s describe movements!
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| グルグル (guru guru) | To spin around |
| ゆっくり (yukkuri) | To do something slowly |
| コロコロ (koro koro) | Something rolls |
| ウロウロ (uro uro) | Wandering around |
| スタスタ (suta suta) | Brisk walk |
| こてっ (kote-t) | Nodding off to sleep |
| カバっ (kaba-t) | Waking up with a start |
| ガチガチ (gachi gachi) | Teeth chattering |
| しばしば (shiba shiba) | Blinking rapidly |
| カバカバ (kaba kaba) | Quickly chowing down on your food |
| うろうろ | Wandering aimlessly |
| すたこら | Fast paced, eager walking |
| のろのろ | Proceeding at a snail's pace, slow and sluggish |
| うとうと | Half asleep, nodding off |
| ぐっすり | Completely and totally asleep |
| ぐーたら | Not having the willpower to do anything |
| がくがく | Joints, like knees, shaking |
| ぶるぶる | Trembling from cold, fear, or anger |
| きょろきょろ | Turning around looking around restlessly |
| わいわい | Clamorously |
Consonants
Most Japanese syllables start with a consonant. Because the Japanese alphabet is extremely kind, it's (mostly) phonetic. This means that each sound is spelled exactly the way it is pronounced. And every written character is pronounced, unlike English, which has silent letters. Also, thanks to this, there are two neat little symbols called the dakuten and handakuten.
- Dakuten 濁点 are two little dots, or lines, also called ten-ten.
- Handakuten 半濁点 is the open circle, also called maru.
These symbols change the voicing of the consonants they're added to. Consonants can be voiced or unvoiced. Basically, voiced sounds are made with your vocal cords and unvoiced are made without. Here's what they look like in Japanese:
か > が
ka > ga
さ > ざ
sa > za
た > だ
ta > da
は > ば, は > ぱ
ha > ba, ha > pa
Sounds without these symbols are called seion 清音, meaning "pure sounds." Adding dakuten or handakuten make them dakuon 濁音, meaning "impure sounds." This is just the Japanese way of saying that an unvoiced sound is becoming voiced. That's also why the "han" in handakuten means half. Just think of it as being half as pure.
This voicing is very important for understanding onomatopoeia. There are lots of, what I'll call, sets, that represent different sounds based on their voiced and unvoiced counterpart. Let's look:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| こんこん | knocking |
| ごんごん | banging |
| さらさら | silky |
| ざらざら | rough |
| とんとん | tapping |
| どんどん | drumming |
| はらはら | fluttering |
| ばらばら | rustling |
| ぱらぱら | clattering |
The voiced version is always louder, heavier, and more intense than its unvoiced friend. That's probably what makes them seem "impure." Say these aloud and feel the difference.
Now, when you hear onomatopoeia, you can tell if it's something loud or strong based on what kind of consonant it has. Something using "loud" voiced consonants might be banging, rolling thunder, or strong feelings. Something "half" voiced will be noisy, but not loud, like the pitter patter of rain bouncing off of a window.
Vowels
These are just as important as consonants. Changing a character from か to こ will change the type of sound it's representing, just like adding dakuten and handakuten. Let's take a look:
- かんかん clear clanging
- きんきん high pitched clanging
- こんこん low pitched clanging
For the purpose of this example, these are all representing a clanging sound. Something hitting something else. かんかん is the sound of something hitting metal or stone. きんきん is the sound of a musical triangle. こんこん is the sound of something hitting something hard and echoey. Again, say them aloud. Hit some things too! See if you can tell what vowel would be used to express the sound you're hearing. Here's are some general rules from Jazz Up Your Japanese:
- あ long, slow
- い little, small, quick
- う long, slow
- え something negative (bad)
- お long, slow
Based on this blogs: Tofugu, fluent3months.