Onomatopoeia

Japanese onomatopoeia — sounds, states, emotions, and mimetic expressions organized alphabetically by consonant group.

Onomatopoeia Forms & Usages

Onomatopoeia (擬態語(ぎたいご)) are words which illustrate actions or characteristics by mimicking their "sound." This includes many actions and characteristics which don't actually make a physical sound.

Forms

Most onomatopoeia can appear in several forms. Not all forms exist for every word (✕ marks invalid forms):

	Double	っと-end	り-end	っり-end
smiling	にこにこ	にこっと	にこり	にっこり
grinning	にやにや	にやっと	にやり	✕
stealthily	こそこそ	こそっと	✕	こっそり

The standard particle used with the double, り, and っり forms is と.

Usages

Usage is marked for a word only if it has a significant tendency toward a particular usage. However, most words have some degree of flexibility.

ADV — Describing an action or process (adverb function). 女(おんな)の子(こ)はにこにこと笑(わら)った。 The girl smiled.
する — Used with する as a verb unit (と omitted). 心臓(しんぞう)がどきどきしている。 My heart is pounding.
ADJ — Describing a state of being (adjective function). ごつごつ[している]手(て) : a rugged, sturdy hand.
N-ADJ — Adjective function, but with noun-like grammar. だぶだぶのズボン : baggy pants. びしょびしょになる : to become soaking wet.

Particles & Conventions

と : required/common.
(と) に : に preferred (for adverb usage); と optional.
NP : usually used without a particle.
No icon : と may be used but is frequently omitted (including it emphasizes the aural aspect of the word).
The と in the っと form is itself the particle と, so no additional particle is needed.

Sound Symbolism

Sounds with dakuten ゛ (G/D/B) are usually related to but feel more "heavy" or "powerful" than their K/T/H counterparts. P sounds are "smaller" and "lighter" than H/B. However, they are not always interchangeable.

Legend

● Can be used with 言(い)う to (beratingly) describe someone's speaking as banter, complaining, whining, etc.
Dots next to words indicate suggested learning priority: 2 dots = high, 1 dot = medium, no dots = low.
② Can also replace any usage of うだうだ or ようよう.
③ Homophone: 極々(ごくごく) — "very, extremely."
④ ADV usage except where noted otherwise.
⑤ Set usage: ~気(き)はさらさらない (have no intention of doing ~).
⑥ Homophone (続々(ぞくぞく)) — "one after another."

A/I/U/E/O

Type	Japanese	Meaning
ADVとっり	あっさり	easily, readily; with little effort (plain, simple)
ADVSURU	あたふた	panicking; in a hurry not knowing what to do
N-ADJ	あべこべ	topsy-turvy, reversed, the wrong way around
N-ADJ	あやふや	vague, uncertain, ambiguous
ADVSURUと	いきいき	lively, vivid, full of life
ADVと	いそいそ	eagerly, cheerfully (going somewhere)
ADVSURU	いちゃいちゃ	flirting; being all lovey-dovey
ADVSURU	いらいら	irritated, impatient, frustrated
ADVSURU	うきうき	cheerful, in high spirits, excited
ADVSURU	うじうじ	wishy-washy, indecisive, hesitant
ADVSURU	うずうず	itching to do something; restless/impatient (wanting to act)
ADVSURU	うとうと	dozing off, drowsy
ADVSURUとっり	うっかり	carelessly, absentmindedly
ADVと	うっすら	faintly, slightly, dimly
ADVSURUとっり	うっとり	entranced, dreamily, in rapture
ADVSURU	うるうる	eyes welling up with tears
ADVSURU	うろうろ	wandering around aimlessly, loitering
ADVSURUり	うんざり	fed up, disgusted, tired of
ADVと	おずおず	timidly, hesitantly
ADVSURU	おどおど	nervous, timid, lacking confidence
ADVとっり	おっとり	calm, gentle, easy-going
ADVSURU	おろおろ	flustered, at a loss, panicking

H/B/P

Type	Japanese	Meaning
ADVSURUと	はきはき	speaking/acting clearly and energetically
ADVSURUとっり	はっきり	clearly, distinctly
ADVSURU	はらはら	anxious; on tenterhooks; scattering (petals)
ADVSURU	ばたばた	bustling about noisily; flapping
ADVN-ADJ	ばらばら	scattered, separate, in pieces
ADV	ばりばり	crunching; working vigorously; energetically
ADVと	ぱくぱく	eating with big bites; mouth opening and closing
ADVと	ぱっと	suddenly, at a glance, brightly
ADVと	ぱらぱら	light scattered rain; sparse; flipping pages
ADVと	ひそひそ	whispering secretly
ADVSURU	ひやひや	nervous, on edge, a close call
ADVと	ひらひら	fluttering (petals, paper, flag)
ADVSURU	びくびく	frightened, timid, flinching
ADVSURUっり	びっくり	surprised, startled
ADVSURUN-ADJ	ぴかぴか	sparkling, brand-new, shiny
ADVとっり	ぴったり	exactly, perfectly fitting
ADVSURUN-ADJ	ふわふわ	fluffy, soft, light
ADVSURU	ふらふら	staggering, dizzy, unsteady
ADVと	ぶつぶつ	muttering, grumbling under breath
ADVSURU	ぶらぶら	strolling aimlessly; dangling
ADVと	ぶるぶる	shivering, trembling (cold, fear)
ADVSURUN-ADJ	ぺこぺこ	starving hungry; bowing repeatedly
ADVN-ADJ	ぺらぺら	speaking fluently; thin and flimsy
ADVSURUと	ほっと	relieved, with a sigh of relief
ADVSURUとり	ぼんやり	vaguely, absentmindedly, hazily

K/G

Type	Japanese	Meaning
ADVとN-ADJ	かさかさ	dry; rustling (dry leaves); dry skin
ADVN-ADJ	かちかち	hard, frozen, stiff; clicking
ADVN-ADJ	からから	dry, parched; rattling; empty
ADVSURUN-ADJ	かりかり	crispy, crunchy; irritated; scratching
ADVN-ADJ	かんかん	clanging; furiously angry; scorching sun
ADVとN-ADJ	がさがさ	rustling roughly; coarse texture
ADVSURU	がたがた	rattling; shaking; chattering (teeth)
ADVN-ADJ	がちがち	rigid, stiff, nervous; frozen hard
ADVと	がちゃがちゃ	clattering, jangling (keys, coins)
ADVSURUっり	がっかり	disappointed, let down
ADVとっり	がっちり	solidly built; firmly; tightly
ADVSURUと	がつがつ	wolfing down food; eating greedily
ADVと	がぶがぶ	guzzling; drinking in big gulps
ADVと	がやがや	noisy crowd chatter
ADVとN-ADJ	がらがら	clattering; empty; gargling
ADVとN-ADJ	がりがり	crunching hard; scraping; scrawny
ADVと	がんがん	pounding; loudly; vigorously
ADVと	きちんと	neatly, properly, in good order
ADVとっり	きっちり	precisely; tightly; without slack
ADVとっり	きっぱり	decisively; firmly; flatly
ADVSURUと	きびきび	briskly; energetically
ADVSURUと	きらきら	sparkling; glittering (stars, eyes)
ADVSURU	きりきり	sharp, piercing pain; spinning busily
ADVSURUと	きょろきょろ	looking around searchingly/restlessly
ADVSURU	ぎくしゃく	awkward; not smooth; stiff (relationship/movement)
ADVと	ぎしぎし	creaking (floor, wood under weight)
ADVとっり	ぎっしり	packed tightly; crammed full
ADVとN-ADJ	ぎゅうぎゅう	squeezed; packed tight; stuffed in
ADVSURUと	ぎらぎら	glaring; dazzling harshly (sun)
ADVN-ADJ	ぎりぎり	barely; just barely; at the limit
ADVと	くすくす	giggling; snickering quietly
ADVN-ADJ	くたくた	exhausted; overcooked; worn out
ADVと	くどくど	nagging; repeating tediously
ADVSURUと	くねくね	winding; wriggling; meandering
ADVSURU	くよくよ	worrying; brooding over something
ADVSURU	くらくら	dizzy; lightheaded
ADVと	くるくる	spinning around; revolving
ADVとっり	くっきり	sharply; distinctly; vividly
ADVと	ぐいぐい	pulling strongly; drinking big gulps; pressing on
ADVと	ぐうぐう	snoring; stomach growling
ADVSURU	ぐずぐず	dawdling; grumbling; being slow
ADVN-ADJ	ぐちゃぐちゃ	messy; jumbled; squishy
ADVSURUとっり	ぐったり	exhausted; limp; wilted
ADVとっり	ぐっすり	sleeping soundly and deeply
ADVと	ぐっと	with a strong pull; much more; holding back
ADVN-ADJ	ぐにゃぐにゃ	flexible; limp; bendy
ADVSURU	ぐらぐら	shaky; wobbly; unstable
ADVと	ぐるぐる	going round and round; spiraling
ADVと	ぐんぐん	rapidly; steadily growing/advancing
ADVと	けろけろ	nonchalant; unfazed; ribbit (frog)
ADVと	けろっと	completely recovered; nonchalant
ADVSURUとっり	げっそり	gaunt; haggard; visibly thinner
ADVと	げらげら	laughing loudly; guffawing
ADVSURUと	こそこそ	sneaking; secretly; stealthily
ADVN-ADJ	こちこち	stiff; frozen; nervous (=かちかち)
ADVと	こつこつ	steadily; tapping; working diligently
ADVとっり	こってり	rich; thick; heavy (flavor)
ADVと	こりこり	crunchy; firm and chewy (cartilage)
ADVSURUと	ころころ	rolling; round and small; changing easily
ADVとり	こんがり	nicely browned; toasted golden
ADVと	ごうごう	roaring (river, fire, wind)
ADVと	ごくごく	gulping down a drink
ADVと	ごしごし	scrubbing hard
ADVと	ごそごそ	rummaging; rustling (searching through things)
ADVSURUN-ADJ	ごたごた	cluttered; messy; confused (situation)
ADVSURUN-ADJ	ごちゃごちゃ	cluttered; disorganized; muddled
ADVとN-ADJ	ごつごつ	rugged; rough; bony
ADVSURUと	ごろごろ	rolling; rumbling; lounging around

S/Z

Type	Japanese	Meaning
ADVと	ざあざあ	(sound of) pouring rain or TV static
ADVと	ざくざく	(walking on snow/gravel); plentiful/many; spiky
ADVN-ADJ	ざっくばらん	candid, brusque, unmannered
ADVSURUとっり	さっぱり	mild and dry; clean, fresh, (feeling) free
ADVと	しくしく	sobbing/weeping pitifully; a dull pain
ADVと	じろじろ	staring at something (persistently)
ADV	しばしば	often, frequently; blinking one's eyes (frequently)
ADVと	しゃきしゃき	crisp (vegetables), (food which) cuts cleanly
ADVと	じゃぶじゃぶ	splashing water around; using lots of (money, etc.)
ADVSURUN-ADJ	ざらざら	(sound of gravel); gritty, coarse-grained
ADVと	しゃりしゃり	(sound of something coarse being) crunched/ground
ADVと	じわじわ	advancing slowly; steadily intensifying (pressure)
ADVSURUとっり	しっかり	steady, reliable; firmly, properly
ADVとっり	じっくり	steady, without haste; carefully, patiently
ADVと	すいすい	(swimming/flying) effortlessly through something
ADVN-ADJ	すかすか	having a lot of available room/space; empty
ADVと	ずかずか	making an unabashed entrance/barging in
ADVSURU	ずきずき	a throbbing pain; heartbroken
ADVと	ずけずけ	(speaking) bluntly; saying things without reserve
ADVと	ずばずば	(speaking) candidly/bluntly
ADVと	すごすご	(retreating/leaving) dejectedly
ADVと	すたすた	(walking) briskly, without wasting time
ADVとり	すんなり	smoothly, without resistance; slender
ADVN-ADJ	ずぶずぶ	sinking into; in an irreversible (relationship)
ADVと	すやすや	(sleeping) peacefully
ADVと	するする	unimpeded, continuous; sleek
ADVと	ずるずる	sliding heavily, forcibly; slurping a liquid
ADVSURUと	せかせか	in a busy/hurried, hectic way
ADVSURU	ぞくぞく	feeling a thrill or rush of adrenaline; get the chills
ADVと	ぞろぞろ	many (people/insects/etc.) moving in a group
ADVSURU	そわそわ	restless, fired up, excited

N

Type	Japanese	Meaning
ADJ	なよなよ	soft/weak, flexible/pliable
ADVSURUとり	にこにこ	smiling (happily)
ADVSURUとり	にやにや	grinning (playfully/mischievously)
	にょろにょろ	squirming (like a snake/worm)
	ぬくぬく	warm (bed, food) - (living) leisurely, without labor/hardship
ADJり	ぬるぬる	wet and slippery, slimy - smooth (animation)
	ねちねち	sticky, tenacious (personality)
ADJ	ねばねば	sticky (= ねとねとと, べとべと)
ADVと	のうのう	uncaring, without thinking deeply, half-heartedly
ADV	のこのこ	showing up (where one doesn't belong/isn't wanted)
ADV	のそのそ	(moving) slowly and clumsily - plugging/grinding along
ADV	のろのろ	lazy, sluggish

M

Type	Japanese	Meaning
SURU	まごまご	to be flustered/confused/unsure what to do
N-ADJ	まちまち	mixed (results, reviews, etc.), having slight differences
SURU	むかむか	to feel a surge of sickness/nausea or anger
SURU	むずむず	to be antsy, fidgety - irritated (nose) (= うずうず)
ADVSURU	むにゃむにゃ	babbling incoherently (in one's sleep)
SURU	むらむら	to be overcome with a sudden urge/feeling (esp. sexual)
ADVっり	めきめき	developing/maturing/improving rapidly
	めそめそ	moping, sobbing pitifully
N-ADJ	めろめろ	charmed by (someone/thing) - loss of strength
ADVSURU	もぐもぐ	chewing (without opening one's mouth widely)
	もさもさ	overgrown (hair/grass/etc.) - to draw roughly/sketch
ADVSURU	もじもじ	antsy/squirmy due to reluctance to say/do what one wants
ADVSURU	もぞもぞ	to wiggle around (eg. in bed) - unsettled, anxious
ADVSURU	もたもた	muddling around/inefficient behavior or action
ADJ	もちもち	chewy/sticky (food) - elastic (skin) - plump, tubby
ADJSURU	もやもや	unclear, undefined, foggy - (emotionally) unsettled

Y/R/W

Type	Japanese	Meaning
ADV	やわやわ	softly, smoothly, gently (= やんわり)
ADVSURU	ゆさゆさ	large/heavy object swaying, to shake (a sleeping person)
ADVSURU	ゆらゆら	shaking/wavering/trembling
N-ADJ	よぼよぼ	(walking) unsteadily due to old age/bad health
ADV	よろよろ	(walking) unsteadily/tottering
N-ADJ	らぶらぶ	lovey-dovey
ADVSURU	わいわい	excited and/or noisy (voices), a commotion
SURU	わくわく	nervous/anxious due to anticipation or joy
	わさわさ	restless/busy, fidgety - rustling (papers, hair)
ADVNP	わざわざ	(needlessly) going out of one's way to...
ADV	わちゃわちゃ	to scatter/scramble, not in unison

(っ)り Words

Type	Japanese	Meaning
	あっさり	(too) easily - lightly (flavored)
ADVSURU	うっかり	carelessly, blunder - accidentally
SURU	うんざり	fed up with (something)
SURU	がっかり	(to drop down) disappointed
	きっぱり	(to cut) clearly, unequivocally
	ぐっすり	(sleeping) soundly
SURU	ぐったり	exhausted/physically fatigued
	くっきり	distinctly, easily noticed/obvious
	こっそり	secretly, furtively
ADJ	こってり	milky/dense - rich (flavor)
	さっぱり	clean/refreshed, skipping over the details
	しっかり	firmly, properly
SURU	しっくり	to click/be harmonious
	しっとり	calmly, unhurried; moist, tranquil, modest, graceful
	しゃっきり	style, vitality
	すっかり	completely/totally (changed)
	すっきり	rid of burden/negativity; refreshed
	すんなり	(unexpectedly) easily
	たっぷり	more than required/needed
	ちゃっかり	shrewdly, taking advantage of
	ちょっぴり	just a little
	てっきり	I was sure of..., but was wrong
SURU	にっこり	with a bright smile
	はっきり	clearly, plainly
	ばっさり	boldly (cut off/remove/excise etc.)
	ばっちり	perfectly, in perfect condition
	ひょっこり	"dropping in" unexpectedly
	ぴたり	(stopping) instantly
ADJ	ぴったり	exact/precise (amount) - perfectly fitting
	ふっくら	plump, soft, fluffy
	ほっこり	warm (family, flavorful, substantial)
	ぼんやり	vague, blurry, spaced out
	ぽっちゃり	plump, chubby, portly
N-ADJ	むっつり	gloomy, sullen (a pervert) in private
	やっぱり	just as one suspected
	ゆったり	unhurried, relaxed

(つ)と Words

Type	Japanese	Meaning
	あっという間(ま)(に)	(in) an instant/flash
SURU	かっと	to flare up suddenly (する・くる・なる)
	きっと	surely, without a doubt
ADJSURU	きょとんと	confused/bewildered
	ぐっと	with a surge of energy/strength
	さっさと	quickly, hurriedly (= とっとと)
	さっと	in short/briefly
	じっと	still/motionless - staring at something
	しれっと	nonchalantly, indifferently
	ずっと	forever, unending - so much (more)
	ずばっと	without hesitation
	そっと	softly, gently
	ちっとも...ない	not even a little bit
	ちゃんと	properly, correctly, obediently
	ちょっと	a little bit, somewhat
	どっと	bursting with (laughter, cheers, etc.)
	はっと	sudden, minor shock (sound of a gasp)
	ぱっと見(み)る	at a (quick) glance
	ぱっとしない	lacking spice/zest, doesn't "pop"
	はたと	to suddenly hit on/notice something
	ふっと思(おも)う	without warning, just (occurred to me)
ADJSURU	ぼーっと	to space out, be distracted
SURU	ほっと	to be relieved
ADJSURU	むすっと	annoyed, upset
	もっと	more
	やっと	at last, finally, after a long wait

Pseudo-Onomatopoeia

About Pseudo-Onomatopoeia ④

These words look like onomatopoeia (with doubled or repeated sounds) but are actually adverbs or set expressions. All entries function as adverbs unless otherwise marked. Entries marked with と use the と particle; NP entries are used without a particle; に entries use the に particle.

Type	Japanese	Meaning
と	ぎりぎり	just barely (within limits)
	くれぐれも	be doubly sure to... (呉々)
	しみじみ	strongly/deeply (feel that...)
と	そこそこ	a considerable amount/degree
NP	そもそも	to begin with, originally
NP	それぞれ	respectively, for each one
NP	たまたま	by coincidence (偶々)
NP	ついつい	unintentionally, unwittingly
NP	つくづく	adamantly, intently, deeply (熟々)
NP	とうとう	at last, after much build-up (到頭)
NP	ますます	more and more (益々)
NP	まだまだ	(not yet) finished/ready (未だ未だ)
ADJ	淡々(あわあわ)	thin, faint, subtle
	色々(いろいろ)	in various ways
と	延々(えんえん)	continuing for a long time
NP	各々(おのおの)	for each (person)
	轟々(ごうごう)	thunderous, rumbling
NP	散々(さんざん)	to an extreme/unpleasant extent
と	粛々(しゅくしゅく)	somber, quiet
NP	少々(しょうしょう)	(polite form of ちょっと)
と	深々(しんしん)	(sinking) deeply
NP	精々(せいぜい)	with all one's might
NP	度々(たびたび)	repeatedly, time and again
	段々(だんだん)	increasingly, incrementally
と	次々(つぎつぎ)	one after another, "left and right"
	堂々(どうどう)	proudly, openly
NP	時々(ときどき)	sometimes, occasionally
NP	所々(ところどころ)	here and there (=あちこち)
と	中々(なかなか)	more/better than expected
に	久々(ひさびさ)	"it's been a long time since..."
と	別々(べつべつ)	(paying) separately
に	程々(ほどほど)	in moderation
NP	見(み)る見(み)る	before one's very eyes
NP	黙々(もくもく)	silently, without talking
NP	元々(もともと)	from the beginning, originally
と	悶々(もんもん)	agonizing over something
	朗々(ろうろう)	sonorously, clearly (voiced)

Stem Doubling

About Stem Doubling

i-ADJ and verb stems (ます form) are often doubled and used like onomatopoeia. These doubled words retain or are related to the meanings of the original words. With some exceptions, this usage is mostly limited to 2-syllable stems.

Examples:

長々(ながなが)と話(はな)す — to speak for a long time
赤(あか)ちゃんが這(は)い這(は)いしている。 — The baby is crawling.

Common Examples

Type	Japanese	Meaning
N-ADJ	熱々(あつあつ)	hot (food)
ADV	渋々(しぶしぶ)	reluctantly
ADVと	易々(やすやす)	easily
	浮(う)き浮(う)き	cheerful, lighthearted
N-ADJ	乗(の)り乗(の)り	in the spirit, ready for action
	伸(の)び伸(の)び	carefree — stretching/growing freely
N-ADJ	ばればれ	obvious, "not fooling" anyone

Animal Sounds

Animal	Sound
dog	ワン
cat	ニャー
cow	モー
sheep	メー
pig	ブー
mouse	チュー
frog	ケロ
horse	ヒヒーン
cicada	ミーン
crow	カー
duck	ガー
lion/tiger	ガオー
chicken	コケコッコー

2nd-Syllable Repeaters

Type	Japanese	Meaning
ADV/する	あたふた	in a hurry/feverishly
	あちこち	here and there, all over the place
(noun)	いざこざ	a quarrel/fight
	ぎくしゃく	jerky/strained, awkward
ADV/する	じたばた	to wiggle/flail one's limbs
ADVに	たちまち	in a flash/instant (忽ち)
ADV	ちらほら	here and there, sporadically
	てきぱき	prompt and efficient (work)
(noun)	どさくさ	confusion/chaos
SURU	どたばた	romping around haphazardly
ADJ	はつらつ	vivacious, high-spirited
●	つべこべ(言げんう)	trifling complaints/excuses
ADV/する	やきもき	to get flustered/irritated

Icons & Badges Reference

Usage Icons

話Used primarily in spoken Japanese

書Used primarily in written Japanese

男Used mostly by men

女Used mostly by women

子Used mostly by children

古Old / Archaic expression

硬Used in formal / stiff situations

!Use with caution (not for superiors)

!!Vulgar / expresses anger or disapproval

上Advanced (JLPT N2–N1)

★Reference-only (beyond JLPT scope)

↓Footnote

✕Incorrect usage

○Correct usage

Form Badges

NNoun

NONoun followed by the particle の

NANoun followed by な

TIMENoun indicating time

LOCNoun indicating location/place

ADJAdjective (i-adjective or na-adjective)

i-ADJi-Adjective (e.g. 高い)

na-ADJna-Adjective (e.g. 元気な)

VERB"Nounable" verb form

PASTPast-tense verb (〜た、〜ていた、etc.)

-U/-TAPresent or past verb (non-negative)

NAINegative form

-U/NAIPresent tense verb (regular or negative)

VERB+の"Nounable" verb form followed by の

SURUSuru-verb stem word (noun)

Verb Form Suffixes

-IVerb -I form (連用形)

-UVerb -U form (終止形)

-EVerb -E form (仮定形)

-OUVerb -OU form (意志形)

-TEVerb -TE form (て形)

-TAVerb -TA form (た形)

-TE+たVerb -TE form + past