Do you like manga and anime? If you do, you probably know about Japanese onomatopoeia. As a Japanese learner, you may have wondered if it is necessary to learn onomatopoeia words. The answer is yes! Learning Japanese onomatopoeia is a must if you want to speak fluently in Japanese.
Today we will learn about onomatopoeia and how to use them. Also, we will see 29 of the most useful Japanese onomatopoeias so that you can include them in your daily vocabulary immediately.
Are you ready to learn Japanese? 始めましょう！
Types Of Japanese Onomatopeia
There are five kinds of Japanese onomatopoeia:
1. Giongo (擬音語)
擬音語Refers to natural and inanimate sounds
- ゴロゴロ (goro goro): Thunder rumbling or large objects rolling loudly
word - ザーザー (za- za-): Heavy rain
word
2. Gitaigo (擬態語)
擬態語Words that somehow describe conditions and states.
- キラキラ (kirakira): Sparkling
word - グルグル (guru guru): Dizzy
word
3. Giseigo (擬声語)
擬声語Words that mimic actual animal and human sounds.
- ワンワン (wanwan): Woof-woof (dog)
word - ニャーニャー (nyanya): Meow-meow (cat)
word - モーモー (mo-mo-): Moo-moo (cow)
word
4. Giyougo (擬容語)
擬容語
Sounds that are used to describe movements and motions.
- グルグル (guru guru): To spin around
word - ガチガチ (gachi gachi): Teeth chattering
word
5. Gijougo (擬情語)
擬情語Sounds to express feelings or emotions.
- るんるん (run run): Humming happily
word - やきもき (yakimoki): Feeling so worried that you can’t calm down
word
Before we explore more onomatopeia words, I’m pretty sure you’re interested in memorizing these words on your own. Fret not. The Ling app is a handy language learning app that will help you. Want to see what it looks like? Check it on the App Store or Play Store now!
What Is An Onomatopeia?
Onomatopoeia refers to a word or expression that represents sound effects. Other languages also use them, but not as frequently as Japanese. For example, there are many English onomatopoeia that mimic the sounds of animals (quack, roar), humans (clap, gulp), and objects (boom, click). Japanese people use オノマトペ(onomatopeia) in daily life not only to mimic actual sounds but also to describe feelings. A sound effect resembling “emotional feelings” or “sensations” doesn’t exist in other languages.
How To Use Japanese Onomatopoeia?
Japanese onomatopoeia is usually used as adjectives, but they function as adverbs, too. There is no strict way to write them. Some authors say that it’s “better” to use both of the Japanese writing systems: hiragana for “soft sounds” and katakana for “hard sounds” or emphasis. However, that’s not mandatory. You don’t need to overthink this! You can use either and just focus on the context.
You can use these mimetic words in conversational Japanese to sound more natural and expressive. However, since there are thousands of them, it is recommended that you learn the most common ones first. Pay close attention when you are reading manga, watching doramas, or listening to a conversation in Japanese. The best way to learn onomatopoeia words is to see them in action.
Alright, enough about theory! Let’s see more examples.
28 Surprising Japanese Onomatopoeia
1. ニャーニャー (nyanya): Meow-meow (cat)
ニャーニャー
- 猫はニャーニャーと鳴きます。
- Neko wa nyānyā to nakimasu.
猫はニャーニャーと鳴きます - The cat meows.
2. ブーブー (bu-bu-): Oink-oink (pig)
ブーブー
- 豚はブーブーとうるさいです。
- Buta wa būbū to urusaidesu.
豚はブーブーとうるさいです - Pigs are noisy.
3. くすくす (kusukusu): Sound of someone giggling.
くすくす
- 彼女はくすくすと笑っています。
- Kanojo wa kusukusu to waratte imasu.
彼女はくすくすと笑っています - She is giggling.
4. ゲラゲラ (geragera): Sound of someone laughing out loud.
ゲラゲラ
- 彼はゲラゲラと笑っています。
- Kare wa geragera to waratte imasu.
彼はゲラゲラと笑っています - He is laughing out loud
5. ぱくぱく (pakupaku): Mimics the action of devouring a lot of food.
ぱくぱく
- 子供がパクパク食べています。
- Kodomo ga pakupaku tabete imasu.
子供がぱくぱくたべています - The child is eating a lot.
6. ぺろぺろ (peropero): Describes the sound of a person or animal licking something.
ぺろぺろ
- あの子はアイスクリームをぺろぺろ舐めています。
- Anoko wa aisukurīmu o peropero namete imasu.
あの子はアイスクリームをぺろぺろ舐めています - That girl is licking her ice cream.
7. ピヨピヨ (piyo piyo): Peep or chirp.
ピヨピヨ
- ヒヨコがピヨピヨ鳴いています。
- Hiyoko ga piyopiyo naite imasu.
ヒヨコがピヨピヨ鳴いています - A chick is chirping.
8. きょろきょろ (Kyorokyoro): Represents the action of looking around curiously.
きょろきょろ
- 彼はいつもきょろきょろしています。
- Kare wa itsumo kyorokyoro shite imasu.
彼はいつもきょろきょろしています - He is always looking around.
9. ぎゃあぎゃあ (gyāgyā): High-pitched cry or screeching.
ぎゃあぎゃあ
- 赤ちゃんがぎゃあぎゃあ泣いています。
- Akachan ga gyāgyā naite imasu.
赤ちゃんがぎゃあぎゃあ泣いています - The baby is crying loudly.
10. しくしく (shikushiku): Mimic the sound of someone sobbing.
しくしく
- 妹はしくしく部屋で泣いています。
- Imōto wa shikushiku heya de naite imasu.
妹はしくしく部屋で泣いています - My little sister is sobbing in her room.
11.ドキドキ (Dokidoki): Describes the sound of a rapid heartbeat and expresses excitement or nervousness.
ドキドキ
- 彼と会うとドキドキします。
- Kare to au to dokidoki shimasu.
彼と会うとドキドキします - My heart beats fast when I see him.
12. わくわく (wakuwaku): Describes a feeling of excitement or a positive expectation.
わくわく
- 明日から旅行なのでわくわくしています。
- Ashita kara ryokōnanode wakuwaku shite imasu.
明日から旅行なのでわくわくしています - I’m excited because I’m traveling from tomorrow.
13. ざあざあ (zāzā): Sound of heavy rainfall.
ざあざあ
- 雨がざあざあ降っています。
- Ame ga zāzā futte imasu.
雨がざあざあ降っています - It is raining heavily.
14. つるつる (tsurutsuru): Describes something very slippery.
つるつる
- 床がつるつるしています。
- Yuka ga tsurutsuru shite imasu.
床がつるつるしています - The floor is slippery.
15. ぱりぱり (paripari): Something “crispy” or “crusty.”
ぱりぱり
- このお煎餅はぱりぱりしています。
- Kono o senbei wa paripari shite imasu.
このお煎餅はぱりぱりしています - This rice cracker is crispy.
16. さくさく (sakusaku): “crunchy.”
さくさく
- この天ぷらはさくさくしています。
- Kono tenpura wa sakusaku shite imasu.
この天ぷらはさくさくしています - This tempura is crunchy.
17. ねばねば (neba neba): Means sticky or viscous.
ねばねば
- オクラはねばねばしています。
- Okura wa nebaneba shite imasu.
オクラはねばねばしています - Okra is sticky.
18. がちがち (gachigachi): Something or someone “stiff,” “rigid.”
がちがち
- 彼は緊張してがちがちです。
- Kare wa kinchō shite gachigachi desu.
彼は緊張してがちがちです - He tends to be nervous.
19. がりがり (garigari): Someone “scrawny,” “too skinny.”
がりがり
- 彼女はがりがりです。
- Kanojo wa garigaridesu.
彼女はがりがりです - She is scrawny.
20. むきむき (mukimuki): Someone “muscular,” “brawny.”
むきむき
- 彼はむきむきです。
- Kare wa mukimuki desu.
彼はむきむきです - He is muscular.
21. さらさら (sarasara): Something “smooth,” “silky.”
さらさら
- 私の髪はさらさらです。
- Watashi no kami wa sarasara desu.
私の髪はさらさらです - My hair is silky.
22. ざわざわ（zawa zawa): Mimics the sound of a lot of people talking at once or something swaying.
ざわざわ
- 木がざわざわと揺れています。
- Ki ga zawazawa to yurete imasu
木がざわざわと揺れています - The trees are swaying.
23. そろそろ (soro soro): Means something is about to happen.
そろそろ
- お母さんがそろそろ着きます。
- Okāsan ga sorosoro tsukimasu.
お母さんがそろそろ着きます - Mom will arrive soon.
24.ぐつぐつ (Gutsu Gutsu): Mimics the sound of something simmering.
ぐつぐつ
- 鍋がぐつぐつしています。
- Nabe ga gutsugutsu shite imasu.
鍋がぐつぐつしています - The pot is simmering.
25.もじもじ (moji moji): Means hesitating or fidgeting.
もじもじ
- 彼は何かを言いたそうに もじもじ しています。
- Kare wa nanika wo iita-sō ni mojimoji shite imasu.
彼は何かを言いたそうに もじもじ しています - He is fidgeting as if he wants to say something.
26. だんだん (dan dan): Means gradually or little by little.
だんだん
- 弟はテニスがだんだん上手くなっています。
- Otōto wa tenisu ga dandan umaku natte imasu.
弟はテニスがだんだん上手くなっています - My younger brother is getting better and better at tennis.
27. だらだら (dara dara): Means lazily or inefficient.
だらだら
- いつもだらだらしています。
- Itsumo daradara shite imasu
いつもだらだらしています - I’m always slacking off.
28. キュンキュン( kyun kyun): Means heartthrob or your heart tightening.
キュンキュン
- 彼の言葉にはいつもキュンキュンしています。
- Kare no kotoba ni wa itsumo kyunkyun shite imasu.
彼の言葉にはいつもキュンキュンしています - His words always make me quiver.
Are You Ready To Express Your Feelings With Onomatopeia?
As you can see, the Japanese language is quite versatile. Onomatopoeia words allow you to describe things you would not be able to in another language. So, enhance your communication with Japanese onomatopoeic expressions and connect with your Japanese friends on a different level. If you want to supercharge your language-learning process on this topic, there’s nothing more that we can recommend than the Ling App! Check it out below!
Master Japanese Onomatopeia With Ling
Are you ready to practice Japanese onomatopoeia?
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