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Unlocking the Secret Sounds of Japan: A Journey into Japanese Onomatopoeia

Japanese-Language
by Morris Servaessen | 4 Mar 2023 Unlocking the Secret Sounds of Japan: A Journey into Japanese Onomatopoeia

Introduction

Japanese onomatopoeia, also known as "giseigo" (擬声語), are words that replicate or reproduce the sounds of various elements of the natural world, including animal sounds, the noise produced by objects or machines, as well as human actions or emotions.

These words are a crucial feature of the Japanese language and culture and are extensively used in everyday conversations, literature, and entertainment.

List of Onomatopoeia:

OnomatopoeiaEnglish
ゴロゴロrumbling sound
キラキラsparkling, glittering
クスクスlaughing softly
ドキドキheart beating fast, excitement
ズキズキthrobbing pain
グズグズlazy, sluggish
ピチピチtight, elastic
コロコロrolling, tumbling
シュンsneezing
ウロウロwandering aimlessly
バタバタflapping, bustling
キュンキュンfeeling of tightness or squeezing
ザーザーpouring rain
ボロボロfalling apart, tattered
クラクラdizzy, lightheaded
ニコニコsmiling happily
チリチリprickling, tingling
パラパラfalling lightly and continuously
ゴソゴソrustling, shuffling
ワクワクexcited, thrilled
ポツポツdripping, popping
コワコワtrembling with fear
ギシギシcreaking, grinding
キーンringing in the ears
バンバンbanging, thumping
ジリジリscreeching, squeaking
ザワザワrestless, uneasy
ゲロゲロvomiting
ポッキリsnapping, breaking in half
ヒクヒクpulsating, twitching