Japanese Onomatopoeia is So Fun!

– Expressing Feelings and Sounds the Japanese Way –

What Is Japanese Onomatopoeia?

In Japanese, there are many unique words that express sounds and states of being. These are called onomatopoeia, and they come in two main types:

• Giongo (擬音語：ぎおんご):

  Words that mimic actual sounds　e.g., wan-wan (dog barking), dokan (a loud bang)

• Gitaigo (擬態語：ぎたいご):

  Words that describe states, movements, or emotions, even if they have no sound　e.g., niko-niko (smiling happily), waku-waku (feeling excited)

Why Are There So Many Onomatopoeic Words in Japanese?

Japanese is a language that excels at expressing emotions and sensations. These words allow speakers to vividly describe situations, even if there’s no actual sound involved. You’ll find onomatopoeia in everyday conversations, manga, anime, TV shows, and advertising.

Examples of Giongo (Sound Words)

Onomatopoeia	Meaning	Example Sentence
ごろごろ gorogoro	rumbling (thunder or rolling)	空で雷がゴロゴロ鳴っている。 I heard thunder gorogoro in the sky.
がたんごとん gatan goton	sound of a train running	電車がガタンゴトンと走っている。 The train is going gatan goton.
ちゅーちゅー chuu-chuu	squeaking (mouse sound)	子どもが「ネズミがチューチューって言ってる！」と叫んだ。 The child said, “The mouse goes chuu-chuu!”

Examples of Gitaigo (Descriptive Words)

Onomatopoeia	Meaning	Example Sentence
どきどき doki-doki	nervous or excited heartbeat	初めてのデートでドキドキした。 I felt doki-doki before my first date.
わくわく waku-waku	excited anticipation	明日の旅行が楽しみでワクワクしている。 I’m feeling waku-waku about tomorrow’s trip.
いらいら ira-ira	irritation or frustration	渋滞でイライラしてしまった。 I got ira-ira in the traffic jam.
きらきら kira-kira	sparkling or glittering	夜空に星がキラキラ光っている。 The stars are kira-kira in the night sky.

Origins and Background of Japanese Onomatopoeia

• Many words originate from ancient Japanese sounds or mimicked speech patterns.

• Manga and anime have made onomatopoeia even more expressive and visually engaging.

• Especially gitaigo (emotion-based words) are uniquely Japanese, and often don’t have direct English translations.

Who Uses Onomatopoeia in Japan?

• Giongo (sound words) are used across all age groups.

• Gitaigo (feeling or condition words) are more commonly used by younger generations and women, especially in casual speech.

  • e.g., A teenage girl might say, “This café has super fuwa-fuwa pancakes!”

Still, many expressions like zuki-zuki (throbbing pain) or kari-kari (annoyed) are also used naturally by adults.

Practice Time! Try Using Onomatopoeia

Complete the following sentences with the correct Japanese onomatopoeia:

1. 明日の面接が心配で、胸が＿＿＿＿している。

   (I’m so nervous about tomorrow’s interview. My heart is going ________.)

2. 赤ちゃんが嬉しそうに＿＿＿＿笑っている。

   (The baby is smiling ________.)

3. 雷が＿＿＿＿と鳴り始めた。

   (Thunder is rumbling ________ in the sky.)

Check your answers during a lesson with Yuki Sensei's Japanese Classroom!

Try using these in conversation to become more natural in Japanese!

Study Tips

• Manga and anime are great for learning onomatopoeia naturally.

• Instead of just memorizing, learn them in context to remember better.

• Practicing in real conversations is the best way to master them!

Summary

Japanese onomatopoeia adds flavor and emotion to your speech. By learning giongo and gitaigo, you’ll sound more expressive and fluent—just like a native speaker!Let’s enjoy Japanese through feeling-based expressions

Want to learn more fun expressions? Join Yuki Sensei’s Japanese lessons online and practice using them in real-life conversations!

See you in the next class!!