There are two broad families. 擬音語ぎおんご imitate actual sounds (a dog barking, rain falling), while 擬態語ぎたいご describe states, feelings or manners that make no sound at all (being excited, glittering, being exhausted). Sounds are often written in katakana, while mimetic words are usually written in hiragana.


Grammar-wise, many of them pair up with する (to do) - for example 緊張きんちょうして心臓しんぞうがどきどきする (“my heart is pounding”) - or attach to a verb with と, like そっと置おく (“to put down gently”).

Animal sounds

These are the Japanese equivalents of “woof” and “meow”. Notice they often differ quite a lot from the English versions.

Hiragana Katakana Meaning
わんわん ワンワン a dog barking - “woof woof”
にゃーにゃー / にゃんにゃん ニャーニャー / ニャンニャン a cat meowing
こけこっこー コケコッコー a rooster crowing - “cock-a-doodle-doo”
ちゅんちゅん チュンチュン small birds chirping
かーかー カーカー a crow cawing
もーもー モーモー a cow mooing
ぶーぶー ブーブー a pig oinking (also a car horn, or grumbling)
げろげろ ゲロゲロ a frog croaking
ぶんぶん ブンブン bees or insects buzzing
ひひーん ヒヒーン a horse neighing

Sounds around us

Everyday sounds of weather, objects and the world around you.

Hiragana Katakana Meaning
ざあざあ ザーザー rain pouring down heavily
ぽつぽつ ポツポツ rain starting to fall in scattered drops
ごろごろ ゴロゴロ thunder rumbling (also rolling, or lazing around)
びゅーびゅー ビュービュー wind howling
ぴんぽーん ピンポーン a doorbell - “ding-dong” (also “that’s correct!”)
がたがた ガタガタ rattling or shaking
どんどん ドンドン banging or knocking (also “more and more, rapidly”)
ぱちぱち パチパチ clapping, or a fire crackling
ちりんちりん チリンチリン a small bell ringing (e.g. a bicycle)
ばたん バタン a door slamming shut

Feelings and body

Mimetic words for emotions and physical sensations - some of the most useful onomatopoeia of all.

Hiragana Katakana Meaning
どきどき ドキドキ heart pounding with excitement or nerves
わくわく ワクワク thrilled, excited with anticipation
いらいら イライラ irritated, annoyed
びっくり ビックリ startled, surprised
にこにこ ニコニコ smiling happily
ぺこぺこ ペコペコ very hungry (お腹なかがぺこぺこ); also bowing repeatedly
くたくた クタクタ worn out, exhausted
ずきずき ズキズキ throbbing pain (e.g. a headache)
ぞくぞく ゾクゾク shivering from cold, fever or excitement
くらくら クラクラ feeling dizzy
ふらふら フラフラ unsteady on one’s feet, light-headed, wobbly
むかむか ムカムカ feeling sick or queasy; also anger welling up
がんがん ガンガン a pounding headache (頭あたまががんがんする); also a loud clanging

States and movement

Mimetic words that describe how something looks, moves or is done. Many of these double as everyday adverbs.

Hiragana Katakana Meaning
ゆっくり ユックリ slowly, leisurely, taking one’s time
だんだん ダンダン gradually, little by little
きらきら キラキラ glittering, twinkling
ぴかぴか ピカピカ shiny, sparkling (often brand new)
ふわふわ フワフワ soft and fluffy; floating lightly
ぐるぐる グルグル going round and round, spinning
ばらばら バラバラ scattered, falling to pieces
べたべた ベタベタ sticky; also clingy
ぺらぺら ペラペラ speaking a language fluently (also thin or flimsy)
そっと ソット gently, softly, quietly
ぱんぱん パンパン stuffed full, swollen tight (お腹なかがぱんぱん); also a slapping sound

Eating and textures

Japanese has a huge vocabulary for how food feels and sounds - essential for talking about meals.

Hiragana Katakana Meaning
もぐもぐ モグモグ chewing with the mouth full
ぱくぱく パクパク eating heartily, munching away
ごくごく ゴクゴク gulping down a drink
つるつる ツルツル slurping smooth noodles; smooth and slippery
さくさく サクサク light and crispy (tempura, biscuits)
もちもち モチモチ soft and chewy, like mochi
ねばねば ネバネバ sticky and gooey (納豆なっとう, okra)
ぷりぷり プリプリ plump and springy (shrimp); also in a huff
ぺろぺろ ペロペロ licking
からから カラカラ parched, bone-dry (e.g. のどがからから, a dry throat)


This is only a small selection - Japanese has hundreds of onomatopoeia. Once you start noticing them, you will spot them everywhere, and sprinkling a few into your own speech is one of the quickest ways to sound more natural.