Onomatopoeia

Japanese mimetic words and sound effects used in daily conversation

Introduction

Japanese has one of the richest onomatopoeia systems in the world. Beyond sound effects (擬音語), there are mimetic words for feelings, textures, and states (擬態語). ドキドキ (heart pounding), モグモグ (munching) — these words make Japanese incredibly vivid.

This chapter covers the onomatopoeia and mimetic words you’ll hear constantly in casual Japanese.

Themes

All Japanese Slang in This Chapter (80)

• もぐもぐ The sound and action of munching or chewing food, often used to describe some...
• ゴロゴロ Lazing around doing nothing; also the sound of rumbling (thunder, stomach) or...
• キラキラ Sparkling, glittering, or shining brightly. Also used metaphorically for some...
• フワフワ Fluffy, soft, light, and airy. Used for textures, foods, and metaphorically f...
• ペコペコ Extremely hungry (starving); also describes bowing repeatedly in an obsequiou...
• ガツガツ Eating greedily or wolfing down food. Also used to describe aggressively purs...
• ジロジロ Staring rudely or looking someone up and down in an intrusive way.
• ニコニコ Smiling happily, grinning with genuine warmth and contentment.
• バタバタ Being frantically busy, rushing around in a hectic state. Also imitates flapp...
• ダラダラ Being lazy and unproductive; dragging on endlessly; dripping or sweating prof...
• ボーッと Spacing out, zoning out, or staring blankly with an unfocused mind.
• ウキウキ Feeling cheerful, excited, and in high spirits — a bubbly, can't-contain-your...
• ソワソワ Feeling restless, fidgety, or unable to sit still due to anticipation, nervou...
• メソメソ Whimpering, sniffling, or crying weakly in a pitiful or self-pitying way.
• シクシク Sobbing or weeping quietly with genuine sadness.
• ゲラゲラ Laughing loudly, boisterously, or cackling without restraint.
• クスクス Giggling, snickering, or laughing quietly — often behind one's hand or trying...
• ニヤニヤ Smirking, grinning mischievously, or wearing a knowing/creepy smile.
• プンプン Being visibly angry or huffy in a cute, pouty way. Also describes a strong sm...
• カンカン Furious, fuming mad — a level of anger much more intense than just annoyed.
• オドオド Acting nervous, timid, or fearful — visibly lacking confidence in a social si...
• ビクビク Being jumpy, easily startled, or living in constant fear and anxiety.
• ヘトヘト Completely exhausted, drained of all energy — utterly spent both physically a...
• クタクタ Worn out, dead tired, or physically depleted. Also describes limp, wilted obj...
• ヨロヨロ Staggering, wobbling, or walking unsteadily as if about to fall over.
• フラフラ Feeling dizzy or lightheaded; wandering aimlessly; being unsteady on one's feet.
• テキパキ Handling tasks efficiently, briskly, and decisively — getting things done wit...
• キビキビ Moving crisply, energetically, and with sharp precision — sprightly and alert.
• モタモタ Being slow, clumsy, and fumbling — taking too long to do something simple.
• グズグズ Dawdling, procrastinating, or being uselessly indecisive. Also describes a st...
• サクサク Crunchy texture (like tempura or cookies). Also means progressing smoothly an...
• パリパリ Crispy, crunchy — specifically the stiff, snapping crunch of thin foods like ...
• ネバネバ Sticky, slimy, or gooey texture — like natto, okra, yamaimo, or mekabu.
• トロトロ Melty, thick, and creamy — describing rich, smooth textures that melt on the ...
• モチモチ Chewy, springy, and pleasantly squishy — like mochi, udon, or well-made bread.
• カリカリ Crispy with a light crunch — like croutons, rice crackers, or crispy bacon. A...
• ジュワッと A juicy burst of flavor spreading through the mouth — the sensation of biting...
• ホカホカ Steaming hot and freshly made — the comforting warmth of just-cooked food or ...
• ヒンヤリ Cool and refreshing — a pleasant chilly sensation, like cool air on a hot day...
• ポカポカ Warm and cozy — the gentle, pleasant warmth of sunshine, a heated room, or in...
• ジメジメ Describes a humid, damp, or clammy atmosphere — the sticky discomfort of mois...
• カラカラ Describes something bone dry or parched — used for weather, throats, or anyth...
• ツルツル Describes a smooth, slippery, or glossy surface — from polished floors to sil...
• ザラザラ Describes a rough, coarse, or gritty texture — the opposite of smooth.
• ベタベタ Describes something sticky or clingy — from sweaty skin and spilled soda to o...
• ヌルヌル Describes a slimy, slippery texture — and in gaming/tech slang, a buttery smo...
• ガタガタ The sound of rattling, shaking, or clattering — also used to mean complaining...
• ギシギシ The creaking or squeaking sound of wood, floors, beds, or other structures un...
• ガチャガチャ A clattering, jangling noise — also the name for capsule toy vending machines.
• バキバキ A cracking or snapping sound — and modern slang for being extremely muscular ...
• メキメキ Making rapid, noticeable progress or improvement — visibly leveling up.
• グングン Steadily and powerfully advancing, growing, or accelerating — progress with u...
• ジワジワ Gradually spreading, slowly intensifying, or something that grows on you over...
• ドンドン Rapidly, one after another in quick succession — also the sound of heavy bang...
• パッと Suddenly, in a flash, or in one quick instant — something happening or appear...
• サッと Swiftly and smoothly in one quick motion — doing something efficiently withou...
• ジッと Staring fixedly without moving, or staying perfectly still — intense focus or...
• チラチラ Glancing repeatedly, peeking furtively, or the visual of light snow or light ...
• キョロキョロ Looking around restlessly, glancing in all directions — often implying nervou...
• ウロウロ Wandering around aimlessly without purpose or direction — loitering or pacing...
• ブツブツ Muttering or grumbling under one's breath — also describes a bumpy, pimply te...
• ペラペラ Speaking a language fluently — also describes something thin and flimsy like ...
• グダグダ Sloppy, dragging on pointlessly, or falling apart in a disorganized mess.
• ウジウジ Being wishy-washy, indecisive, or brooding over something without taking action.
• ネチネチ Nagging persistently, being passive-aggressive, or bringing up past mistakes ...
• チクチク A prickly, stinging sensation — from scratchy sweaters to needle pricks to ma...
• ズキズキ A throbbing, pulsating pain — the kind that beats in rhythm with your heartbeat.
• ガンガン A pounding headache or doing something with full force — going all out withou...
• ムカムカ Feeling nauseous or stomach-sick — and equally common as feeling anger rising...
• クラクラ Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or woozy — the world spinning around you.
• ゲッソリ Looking haggard, gaunt, or visibly drained — having lost weight or vitality f...
• スッキリ Feeling refreshed, clear-headed, and clean — the satisfying feeling after res...
• シャキッと Crisp, alert, and pulled together — snapping to attention or having a sharp, ...
• グッタリ Completely drained, limp, and exhausted — having zero energy left, like a def...
• ぐちゃぐちゃ A complete mess — things jumbled together, mushed up, or in total disarray.
• ピカピカ Sparkling, shiny, or gleaming — describes something polished clean or brand new.
• モヤモヤ A hazy, unsettled feeling — vague frustration, unease, or foggy confusion tha...
• アタフタ Flustered and rushing around in a panic — the frantic scramble when you're ca...
• オロオロ Bewildered and helpless — standing around not knowing what to do in a crisis ...
• ゾクゾク Thrilling shivers running down your spine — from excitement, cold, fear, or a...