NISJ-387-Onomatopoeia Part 2

Onomatopoeia (オノマトペ) Part 2

In Japanese, Onomatopoeia can be divided into a few categories; they are called giseigo (擬声語), giongo (擬音語), gitaigo (擬態語), giyougo (擬容語) and gijougo (擬情語). As we learned in the previous episode, they are used to describe sounds made by animals, humans, and inanimate objects, as well as to express feelings, emotions, and movements.

Here are the five categories of onomatopoeia in Japanese:

1. Giseigo (擬声語): These are words that imitate sounds made by living things like animals and humans. For example:

– ワンワン (wan wan) – woof woof
– ニャーニャー (nya nya) – meow meow
– ゴロゴロ (goro goro) – purr purr

2. Giongo (擬音語): These are words that imitate sounds made by inanimate objects and nature. For example:

– ズキューン (zukyūn) – zoom
– ガチャン (gachan) – clank
– ピチピチ (pichi pichi) – sizzle

3. Gitaigo (擬態語): These are words that describe conditions and states. For example:

– キラキラ (kira kira) – sparkling
– ウキウキ (uki uki) – excited
– ドキドキ (doki doki) – nervous

4. Giyougo (擬容語): These are words that describe movements and motions. For example:

– グルグル (guru guru) – spinning around
– ピョンピョン (pyon pyon) – hopping
– バタバタ (bata bata) – flapping

5. Gijougo (擬情語): These are words that describe feelings and emotions. For example:

– ウキウキする (uki uki suru) – feeling excited
– キュンとする (kyun to suru) – feeling a tightness in your chest
– ドキドキする (doki doki suru) – feeling nervous

Here are some more quizzes to test and sharpen your knowledge of Japanese onomatopoeia.

Onomatopoeia (オノマトペ) Part 2

ハンサムな彼は、女子からモテモテだ。
My handsome boyfriend is popular with girls.
Hansamuna kare wa, joshi kara motemote da.
また、体を鍛えているので、筋肉ムキムキだ。
He also works out and is very muscular.
Mata, karada wo kitaete iru node, kinniku mukimuki da.
今日は彼と遊園地にデートに行った。
Today, I went on a date with him to an amusement park.
Kyō wa kare to yūenchi ni dēto ni itta.
嬉しくて、朝からウキウキしていた。
I was so happy and excited from the morning.
Ureshikute, asa kara ukiuki shite ita.
ジェットコースターは、あまりの高さにハラハラした。
The roller coaster was so high that I was nervous.
Jettokōsutā wa, amari no takasa ni harahara shita.
お化け屋敷に入ると、恐くてガタガタと震えた。
When we entered the haunted house, I was scared and shaking.
Obake yashiki ni hairuto, kowakute gatagata to furueta.
でも、イケメンの彼が隣にいて、胸はずっとドキドキしていた。
But my heart was pounding all the way with a handsome guy next to me.
Demo, ikemen no kare ga tonari ni ite, mune wa zutto dokidoki shite ita.
日本は湿度が高いので、じめじめしている。
With Japan’s high humidity, it is very damp.
Nippon wa shitsudo ga takai node, jimejime shite iru.
特に夏は暑くて、汗がだらだら出てくる。
It is especially hot in the summer, and I drip sweat.
Tokuni natsu wa atsukute, ase ga daradara dete kuru.
ランニングをすると、頭がくらくらする。
When I run, it makes my head dizzy.
Ranningu wo suruto, atama ga kurakura suru.
走り終わると、喉がからからに渇いて、私はいつも水をがぶがぶ飲むのが日課だ。
When I finish running, I am so thirsty that I always gulp down a glass of water.
Hashiriowaru to, nodo ga karakara ni kawaite, watashi wa itsumo mizu wo gabugabu nomu no ga nikka da.