Common Japanese Onomatopoeia: Essential Words You’ll Hear Everywhere

Common Japanese Onomatopoeia: Essential Words You’ll Hear Everywhere

If you spend any time in Japan, you’ll hear onomatopoeia everywhere: on TV, in everyday conversations, in manga, and even on product packaging. These words can be confusing at first, but they add a lot of color and nuance to the language.

Below you’ll find a list of the 107 common Japanese onomatopoeia, split by type. Use this as a reference whenever you get stuck or just want to sound a bit more natural when speaking or listening to Japanese.

If you want to keep this list in front of your eyes and finally learn Japanese onomatopoeia, check out our onomatopoeia poster, featuring all 107 words below and available for worldwide shipping!

擬音語 (giongo)

Imitate real sounds, like animal cries, natural noises, or object sounds.

Kana Romaji Meaning
ガチャ gacha Clank, click (e.g., door or lock)
ガラガラ garagara Rattling or empty-sounding
ゴックン gokkun Swallowing sound: Gulp
ゴホン gohon Loud coughing sound: Ahem
ザーザー zāzā Sound of heavy, continuous rain
サクサク sakusaku Crispy, crunchy
ズルズル zuruzuru Slurping noodles or dragging something
チュ chu Kissing sound: Mwah or smooch
チリン chirin Bell ringing lightly: Ting-a-ling
ドカーン dokān Big explosion sound: Boom!
ハクション hakushon Sneezing sound: Achoo!
バタバタ batabata Flapping (e.g. wings, clothes) or busy, frantic activity
バン ban Bang, loud clap

擬態語 (gitaigo)

Describe states, conditions, movements, or feelings without imitating real sounds.

Kana Romaji Meaning
あたふた atafuta Acting in a panic, flustered
あっさり assari Light in taste or easily, without fuss or resistance
いらいら iraira Feeling irritated, frustrated
うっかり ukkari Carelessly, by mistake
うとうと utōto Dozing off lightly
うろうろ urōro Wandering aimlessly
うんざり unzari Fed up, tired of something
がたがた gatagata Shaking (e.g., from fear, cold) or rattling noisily
ぎざぎざ gizagiza Jagged or rough-edged
きちんと kichinto Neatly, properly
ぎゅうぎゅう gyūgyū Packed tightly or overcrowded
きらきら kirakira Sparkling, glittering
ぎりぎり girigiri Just in time or barely enough
ぐっすり gussuri Sleeping deeply
ぐるぐる guruguru Spinning around and around
ごくごく gokugoku Repeated gulping, like chugging a drink
ごしごし goshigoshi Scrubbing hard
こそこそ kosokoso Sneakily or secretly
ごちゃごちゃ gochagocha Messy, cluttered or confusing
こつこつ kotsukotsu Working steadily and patiently over time
ごろごろ gorogoro Lazing around or thunder rumbling
さっぱり sappari Feeling refreshed or completely (e.g., completely forgotten)
さらさら sarasara Smooth or flowing lightly (e.g., hair)
じー jī Staring intently
しーん shīn Total silence (e.g., when a room goes quiet suddenly)
しくしく shikushiku Crying quietly
じたばた jitabata Making a scene or struggling
しっかり shikkari Firmly or reliably
しどろもどろ shidoromodoro Flustered and incoherent (especially when speaking)
じめじめ jimejime Damp and humid
じろじろ jirojiro Staring rudely
しんみり shinmiri Quiet and emotional or reflective
すかすか sukasuka Empty or full of gaps
すっきり sukkiri Feeling clear or refreshed
すらすら surasura Smoothly or easily (e.g., reading, writing)
そっと sotto Gently or quietly
たっぷり tappuri Plenty, a lot
だらだら daradara Lazily or slowly without purpose
ちらっ chira Glancing briefly
ちらほら chirahora Here and there, scattered
つるつる tsurutsuru Smooth and slippery
でこぼこ dekoboko Uneven or bumpy
どきどき dokidoki Heart pounding with excitement or fear
どたばた dotabata Rushing around noisily or in chaos
どんより donyori Gloomy or a sky covered by grey cloud
にこにこ nikoniko Smiling happily
にやにや niyaniya Grinning slyly or creepily
ぬるぬる nurunuru Slippery and slimy
ねばねば nebaneba Sticky and gooey
のろのろ noronoro Moving slowly
のんびり nonbiri Relaxed and unhurried
はっきり hakkiri Clearly or distinctly
ばったり battari Suddenly, unexpectedly encountering someone or collapsing
ばっちり bacchiri Perfectly, flawlessly
ばらばら barabara Scattered, broken apart, or uncoordinated
ぴかぴか pikapika Shiny and clean
びしょびしょ bishobisho Soaking wet
びっくり bikkuri Surprised, startled
ぴったり pittari Fits perfectly or just right
ひりひり hirihiri Stinging or burning (pain)
ひんやり hinyari Cool and refreshing
ふらふら furafura Dizzy, unsteady
ぶるぶる buruburu Shivering, trembling (e.g., from cold, fear)
ふんわり funwari Soft and fluffy
ぺらぺら perapera Fluent (language) or thin, flimsy
べろべろ berobero Drunk or licking heavily
ほっ ho Feeling relieved
ぼさぼさ bosabosa Messy or unkempt (especially hair)
ぼろぼろ boroboro Worn-out or falling apart
ぼんやり bonyari Absent-minded or vague
ムキムキ mukimuki Visibly very muscular
めちゃくちゃ mechakucha Messy, chaotic or extremely, crazy
もぐもぐ mogumogu Chewing with mouth full
モテモテ motemote Very popular (usually with the opposite sex)
ゆっくり yukkuri Slowly and calmly
ゆらゆら yurayura Swaying, wobbling
わいわい waiwai Noisy and lively (crowd or group)
わくわく wakuwaku Excited, thrilled with anticipation

擬声語 (giseigo)

Imitate voices or vocal sounds made by humans or animals.

Kana Romaji Meaning
カーカー kākā Cawing sound of a crow: Caw caw!
ガオー gaō Roar of a beast: Roar!
ケロケロ kerokero Frog’s croak: Ribbit ribbit!
コケコッコ kokekokko Rooster’s crow: Cock-a-doodle-doo!
ニャー nyā Cat’s meow: Meow
パオーン paōn Elephant sound
ヒヒイン hihiin Horse’s neigh: Neigh!
ピヨピヨ piyopiyo Chick’s chirping: Peep peep!
ブーブー būbū Pig’s oink: Oink oink, or complaining: Grumble grumble
ブンブン bunbun Buzzing sound (e.g., a mosquito flying): Bzzz
ホーホー hōhō Owl’s hoot: Hoo hoo
メェーメェー mēmē Sheep’s baa: Baa baa
モーモー mōmō Cow’s moo: Moo moo
ワンワン wanwan Dog’s bark: Woof woof

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