Japanese onomatopoeia and their meanings

by Jenie Gabriel | August 1, 2016

Aside from manga fans, most people probably don’t realize that the Japanese language can be animated and lively. Japanese has over 1,000 onomatopoeia with syllabic and repetitive words—that’s thrice more than in English! Some words might not have English equivalents, since languages are often arbitrary. In Japan, this long list of onomatopoeia grew with the fame of manga comics that include written sound effects to better illustrate each scene.

There are two main types of Japanese onomatopoeic expressions: gion-go and gitai-go. However, the categories can be flexible and subjective. Below is a list of commonly used, double-form onomatopoeia and their English meanings to help learners speak Japanese more naturally and further understand this fascinating language and its culture.

Gion-go

zaa-zaa

These words mimic real, natural sounds and noises by inanimate objects as well as living things such as humans and animals. In the world of manga, they are simply called sound effects.

Japanese	English	Description
がぶがぶ	Gabu gabu	Gulping down a drink
くしゃくしゃ	Kusha kusha	Crumpling sound of paper
ぎしぎし	Gishi gishi	Squeaking noise of beds or old floors
ごぼごぼ	Gobo gobo	Gurgling sound
ざあざあ	Zaa zaa	Sound of the rain
ごろごろ	Goro goro	Purring or growling
かりかり	Kari kari	Crispy or crunchy like rice crackers; scratching a hard surface
けろけろ	Kero kero	Croaking frog
ブーブー	Bu bu	Oinking pig
リンリン	Rin rin	Chirping cricket
ニャーニャー	Nya nya	Meowing cat
ホーホー	Ho ho	Hooting owl
チューチュー	Chu chu	Squeaking mouse

Gitai-go

gusya-gusya

These are words that describe physical things, such as textures, as well as manner of action. In manga, these words clue readers in on the internal feelings of characters.

Japanese	English	Meaning
パクパク	Paku paku	Opening and closing of the mouth when eating; chomping (This is the origin of the name Pac-Man!)
ペコペコ	Peko peko	Hungry; grumbling stomach
どきどき	Doki doki	The loud, pounding of a heart when nervous or excited
うろうろ	Uro uro	To wander aimlessly
うとうと	Uto uto	To doze off
ぐずぐず	Guzu guzu	To procrastinate; act slowly
くらくら	Kura kura	Dizzy; light-headed
きらきら	Kira kira	To sparkle like jewelry or glittery clothes
ざらざら	Zara zara	Rough, coarse surface
ぐしゃぐしゃ	Gusha gusha	Messy hair or clothes
ぱさぱさ	Pasa pasa	Dry; lacks moisture
ねばねば	Neba neba	Sticky like okra or raw egg
ぬるぬる	Nuru nuru	Slimy like a fish out of the water
ぎゅうぎゅう	Gyu gyu	Jam-packed like a train during rush hour
ぞくぞく	Zoku zoku	Excited; to have an adrenaline rush
いらいら	Ira ira	Impatient; irritated
いそいそ	Iso iso	Cheerfully
きびきび	Kibi kibi	Energetically
こそこそ	Koso koso	Sneakingly; secretly

If you want to learn more onomatopoeic expressions, start by reading manga. What do you think are the best or strangest ones? Share them with us!

Image credit: Give My Regards to Black Jack, SHUHO SATO, Manga on Web