Japanese has a lot of onomatopoeic words that not only describe sound but also physical and mental states. Unlike English, they are more numerous and found in all sorts of speech for reasons you will learn in this lesson. These words are often hard to translate, but don't let this be a problem for you.
The definition of a 擬音語 is directly tied to what it's used with. Most onomatopoeic expressions in Japanese have several usages, and not all might fall into the same category. Because we are only dealing with 擬音語 in this lesson, we will not see usages of any word introduced that fall out of this category.
Common 擬音語
| ぺこぺこ（と・に） | Being hungry | がらがら（と・に） | Rattling |
| どきどき（と） | Heart beating | しくしく（と） | Silently (weeping) |
| ぺらぺら（と） | Fluently | ざーざー（と） | Raining very hard |
Part of Speech Note: Some verbs are based off of onomatopoeia. Ex. はためく (to flutter)
Voicing Note: Voiced onomatopoeia often have a more serious or dramatic tone to them versus their very similar non-voiced counterparts. They are often antonymous. For instance, からから can refer to clattering, but がらがら can refer to something solid crashing or really loud clattering (at the least).
Various Realization
Let's say that a common property of onomatopoeic expressions is that there is a root. This root can be doubled and result in something like しくしく. Now, not all onomatopoeia will have as many possible forms as others. So, you should learn onomatopoeia one at a time, but you can always look to see if a certain form exists.
To look at the wide variety of things that can happen, we will use コロ (sound of something rolling) as an example.
| コロッ(と) | Insertion of ッ after root | Looks like it's going to roll |
| コロン | Insertion of ン after root | Bounces back and rolls |
| コロリ | Insertion of リ after root | Rolls once and stops |
| コロコロ | Duplication of root | Rolls in succession |
| コロンコロン | Duplication of root + ン | Rebounds with more momentum while rolling |
| コロリコロリ | Duplication of root + リ | Intermittent rolling |
Derivation Note: There are cases when a ッ may be inserted inside the root, but this can't happen here because the consonant inside the root is r.
Of course, there can always be other words derived from onomatopoeia. Please note that you always have your irregularities. Sometimes different forms have different nuances, although always related. This does not include non-onomatopoeic words with repeating elements. This is really just something you have to mess around with and test the limits of.
1. 日本語がぺらぺらですね。
You speak Japanese very fluently, don't you?
2. 車輪はくるくる回転した。
The wheels turned around.
3. しとしとと雨が降る。
To drizzle.
4. 冷蔵庫の中をごそごそあさる。
To feel through the refrigerator.
5. お腹がぺこぺこだよ。
I am very hungry!
6. ゴロゴロと雷が鳴っている。
Thunder is rumbling.
7. 大きな木がどさっと倒れた。
A large tree thudded down.
8. ばたんと閉める。
To shut with a bang.
9. しんとした森
A silent forest
10. 滴がぽたぽたと落ちていた。
The drops were plopping down.
11. 雨が屋根をパラパラと打っていた。
The rain was pattering on the roof.
12. ぐつぐつ（と）煮る。
To simmer.
13. ざわざわ（と）する
To hum
14. カブトムシがカサカサと草むらを動いている。
Beetles are rustling through the grass thickets.
15. カブトムシが空をぶんぶんと飛んでいる。
Beetles are buzzing through the air.
16. 風がぴゅうぴゅうと吹く、寒い日でした。
It was a cold day with the wind really blowing.
Grammar Note: The last example shows how a verbal expression can be used as an attribute when another attribute is used at the same time. Notice the use of the comma.
Saying
| To harp | くだくだ（と）いう くどくど（と）いう | To nag | がみがみ（と）する | To be fluent | ぺらぺら（と） |
| To murmur | ぶつぶつ（と）いう | To buzz | がやがや | To be outspoken | ぽんぽん（と）いう |
| To chatter | ぺちゃくちゃ（と）しゃべる べらべら（と）しゃべる | To scold | がんがん（と）いう | To swallow | ぼそぼそ（と）いう |
| To whisper | ひそひそ（と）いう | To grunt | ぶうぶう（と）いう | Noisily | わいわい（と） |
Eating & Drinking
| To gulp | ごくごく（と）飲む がぶがぶ（と）飲む ぐっと飲む | To guzzle | がつがつ（と）食べる |
| Crunchy | こりこり（と）する | Scraping; hard to the teeth | ごりごり（と） |
| To gobble | ぱくぱく（と）食べる | To suck | ちゅうちゅう（と）吸う |
| To swallow | ごくり（と）飲む ごくん（と）飲む | To gnaw | がりがり（と）かじる |
Laughter
| To sneer | せせら笑う | To chuckle | くすくす（と）笑う | Laughing Sounds | あはは: いひひ うふふ: えへへ おほほ: ははは ひひひ: くっくっ |
| To cackle | けらけら（と）笑う | To guffaw | げらげら笑う |
With onomatopoeia and と, 来る shows some sort of reaction. This may be a physical or an emotional reaction. Whatever the case may be, the verb still keeps its sense of "to come."
15. わさびが鼻につんと来た。
Wasabi got in my nose big time.
16. 静電気がびりっと来る。
For static electricity to shock you.
17. ぼくにはしっくり来ない。
It doesn't fit well with me.
18. ぴったり来る音楽
Agreeable music
19. カチンと来る。
To get angry.