オノマトペ　 onomatopoeia No. 1

4th March – 弥生

Making words from the things which does not have the actual word in order to express how the thing is – from nature sounds, feeling, situation and emotion into words

Japanese has a lot onomatopoeia compared to other language. This is because Japanese does not have variation of verbs – For instance, expressing anger in English can be angry, irritated, offended, furious, mad, upset… but in Japanese this is explained in one word 怒る (Okoru). Therefore, Japanese uses various onomatopoeia to express how we feel with slight difference.

Today’s blog gives some useful onomatopoeia that you can use in normal conversation in Japanese.

Double words – repeating the two letter again to express certain situation, feeling, looks.

-キラキラ (Kira-kira): something shiny

The star is shining =星がキラキラしている。

-ぴかぴか (Pika-pika): luster, glossy, polished, sparkle

This shoes is polished well＝この靴はぴかぴかに磨かれている。

-ふわふわ (Fuwa-fuwa): very light, floating lightly, plumpy, fluffy.

This bread is fluffy = このパンはふわふわしている。

-わくわく(Waki-waku): excited with joy, good expectation

I am excited for the concert tomorrow＝明日のコンサートが楽しみでわくわくする。

‐ドキドキ (Doki-doki): heart is beating from excitement, fear joy etc

My heart is beating because of the today’s exam = 今日のテスト、緊張して心臓がドキドキする。

-もちもち (Mochi-mochi): soft, sticky and fluffy, how the rice cake feels, tight skin

This snack feels very soft just like a rice cake = このお菓子、お餅みたいにもちもちしている。

‐ペラペラ (Pera-pera): talkative, fluent, good at languages, thin

Nicolas speaks very fluent in English and Spanish = ニコラスさんは英語もスペイン語もペラペラだ。

‐ペコペコ (Peko-peko): very hungry

I am hungry＝おなかがペコペコだ。

‐うろうろ (Uro-uro): walking around

The cat is walking around on the street = 猫が通りでうろうろしている。

‐キンキン (Kin-kin): very cold, cooled

The room is cooled down with very low temperature＝部屋がキンキンに冷えている

‐ふにゃふにゃ (Funya-funya): limpness soft, flabby and flexible

His body is flabby and flexible = 彼の体はふにゃふにゃだ。

‐メロメロ (Mero-mero): person is into someone or something

She is into her cat = 彼女はペットの猫にメロメロだ。

‐サラサラ (Sala-sala): smooth, easily going, no stopping

This pen is smooth when writing = このペンはサラサラ書ける。

Were these helpful? Or did I just explain too many words?

Hope you can use them in the usual conversation in Japanese!