48 Weird and Wonderful Japanese Onomatopoeia to Learn

If you’ve ever listened closely to native Japanese speakers, you might have noticed a colorful array of words that sound like sound effects straight from a comic book—things like “goro goro,” “peko peko,” or “waku waku.” These vibrant expressions are known as Japanese onomatopoeia (in Japanese, giongo and gitaigo), and they’re key to making everyday speech more vivid and engaging. Here, we'll go over some of our favorite Japanese onomatopoeia for you to add to your vocabulary.

What Is an Onomatopoeia?

At its simplest, an onomatopoeia is a word that imitates or evokes the sound it describes—like “meow” or “tick-tock” in English. However, Japanese onomatopoeic words extend far beyond mere sound effects. They capture feelings, movements, states of being, and a variety of other nuances that enrich daily conversation. Mastering these playful terms can supercharge your communication and help you sound more natural when speaking Japanese.

The Five Types of Japanese Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeic expressions in Japanese can be categorized into five key types, each adding a distinct layer of meaning to everyday conversations. Whether you’re talking about the clank of machinery (giongo) or the eerie feeling that makes your spine tingle (gijougo), knowing these five types will help you sound more natural and expressive. Here’s a quick look at each category:

1. Giongo — Onomatopoeic words for sounds made by inanimate objects or natural phenomena, such as the roar of wind or the hum of machinery.
2. Giseigo — Words that mimic sounds from living creatures, including animals and humans (e.g., a cat’s meow or a person’s sigh).
3. Gitaigo — Expressions that describe states or conditions, like feeling sticky with sweat or the muggy heaviness of a summer day.
4. Giyougo — Terms that illustrate specific actions or movements, often capturing what we think of as verbs in English. For instance, describing someone wandering aimlessly or slipping into a deep sleep.
5. Gijougo — Words that convey emotions or feelings, such as the shiver you get when experiencing something eerie.

Japanese Onomatopoeia for Sounds Made by People

Here’s a quick look at onomatopoeic words that capture or mimic noises humans produce:

• Peko peko (ペコペコ): A rumbling stomach or repeated bowing.
• Gera gera (ゲラゲラ): Loud, hearty laughter.
• Gaya gaya (ガヤガヤ): Noisy chatter of a crowd.
• Shiku shiku (シクシク): Soft sobbing or crying quietly.
• Niko niko (ニコニコ): Smiling cheerfully or beaming.
• Perapera (ペラペラ): Fluent or rapid speech, often used for nonstop talking.
• Hara hara (ハラハラ): Feeling tense or anxious about a risky situation.
• Kusu kusu (クスクス): Light, subdued giggling or stifled laughter.

Japanese Onomatopoeia for Sounds Made by Animals

These Japanese expressions are used to depict animal calls and noises:

• Nyan nyan (ニャンニャン): The sound of a cat meowing.
• Wan wan (ワンワン): A dog’s bark.
• Kero kero (ケロケロ): A frog’s croak.
• Moo moo (モーモー): The mooing of a cow.
• Hihin (ヒヒーン): A horse’s neigh.
• Kaa kaa (カーカー): A crow’s distinctive caw.
• Buu buu (ブーブー): A pig’s grunt or oink.
• Piyo piyo (ピヨピヨ): The chirping of baby chicks.

Japanese Onomatopoeia of Inanimate Sounds

From the clang of a metal gate to the rustle of wind through trees, these Japanese words represent non-living sources:

• Zaa zaa (ザーザー): The sound of heavy rain.
• Goro goro (ゴロゴロ): Thunder rolling in the sky.
• Gachank (ガチャン): A clank or bang, like metal on metal.
• Pasha pasha (パシャパシャ): Splashing water.
• Hyuu hyuu (ヒューヒュー): Whistling wind.
• Gara gara (ガラガラ): Rattling or clattering noise.
• Kankan (カンカン): Loud metallic banging or a bell’s sharp ring.
• Don don (ドンドン): Repeated pounding or drumming sound.

Curious about more unique Japanese expressions? Check out our article on fun Japanese slang for some practical vocabulary!

Japanese Onomatopoeia for Different States

When describing physical or environmental conditions, Japanese onomatopoeia can help paint a vivid picture:

• Beta beta (ベタベタ): Sticky or sweaty feeling.
• Mushi mushi (ムシムシ): Hot and humid or muggy weather.
• Kiri kiri (キリキリ): Sharp, continuous pain.
• Jito jito (ジトジト): Damp or clammy sensation, often from sweat or humidity.
• Gasa gasa (ガサガサ): Rough, dry feeling on skin or surfaces.
• Sowa sowa (ソワソワ): Restless or fidgety state.
• Neba neba (ネバネバ): Slippery or slimy, often describing sweat or sticky substances.
• Heto heto (ヘトヘト): Utterly exhausted or worn out.

Japanese Onomatopoeia for Emotions

These Japanese words capture feelings, from excitement to fear:

• Waku waku (ワクワク): Excitement or anticipation.
• Doki doki (ドキドキ): A pounding heartbeat from nervousness or thrill.
• Zoku zoku (ゾクゾク): A spine-tingling sensation of fear or excitement.
• Uki uki (ウキウキ): Lighthearted, happy excitement.
• Uru uru (ウルウル): Teary-eyed or close to crying.
• Muka muka (ムカムカ): Feeling irritated or queasy.
• Biku biku (ビクビク): Trembling with fear or anxiety.
• Ira ira (イライラ): Feeling annoyed or on edge.

Japanese Onomatopoeia for Movements

Whether someone is trudging along slowly or racing ahead, these Japanese terms describe movement:

• Noro noro (ノロノロ): Sluggish, slow movement.
• Suta suta (スタスタ): Brisk, energetic walking.
• Uro uro (ウロウロ): Wandering aimlessly.
• Zoro zoro (ゾロゾロ): A large group moving in a line or crowd.
• Yocho yocho (ヨチヨチ): A toddling or wobbling walk, like a small child.
• Teku teku (テクテク): Walking step by step at a steady pace.
• Bata bata (バタバタ): Noisy or frantic footstep sounds.
• Yoro yoro (ヨロヨロ): Staggering or reeling, about to fall.

For an even deeper dive into Japanese culture and language, take a look at our detailed guide to learning Japanese, where you’ll find tips to complement your new onomatopoeic skills! If you’d like to practice these expressions with native speakers—or even share your favorite onomatopoeia—join Tandem to connect with language learners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Tips for Learning Japanese Onomatopoeia

Japanese onomatopoeia goes beyond simply mimicking sounds—these words also convey tone, emotion, and atmosphere. Here are some quick tips to help you master them:

1. Understand the Categories: Japanese onomatopoeia can be grouped into categories such as giseigo (animal or human sounds), giongo (sounds made by objects), and gitaigo (mimetic words describing actions, conditions, or feelings). Learning each category helps you recognize patterns and use them correctly.
2. Listen and Observe: Watch anime, listen to Japanese podcasts, or read manga to see onomatopoeic expressions in context. Make note of when and how native speakers use them.
3. Repeat and Practice: Because many of these words are repetitive in nature (like goro-goro or peko-peko), saying them out loud reinforces both pronunciation and memory.
4. Focus on Usage: Japanese onomatopoeia can function like adjectives, adverbs, or even nouns. Pay attention to the sentence structure—some require a particle like “と” for adverbial use (e.g., noro-noro と 歩く), while others stand alone (e.g., goro-goro する).
5. Use Mnemonics: Associating an onomatopoeic word with an image or scenario can help cement it in your memory. For example, think of thunder rolling around in your head for goro-goro.
6. Build Your Own Examples: Create simple sentences or short stories using onomatopoeic words. This reinforces your understanding and boosts your confidence in real conversations.

Practice Your Japanese Onomatopoeia with Tandem

From describing that peko peko hunger pang to channeling your waku waku excitement, Japanese onomatopoeia turn ordinary descriptions into vivid, memorable snippets of life. Though they may feel quirky at first, these expressions add nuance and flair to your Japanese, making language learning that much more rewarding.

Ready to take your Japanese to the next level? Keep listening, keep practicing, and soon you’ll be impressing both friends and native speakers with these weird and wonderful onomatopoeic gems!

If you want to take your new vocabulary for a spin in real conversations, download Tandem to meet native Japanese speakers and language learners from around the globe. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself and turn these onomatopoeic words into a natural part of your everyday speech.