Japanese has an incredibly rich set of sound-symbolic words: 擬声語 (gisei-go), 擬態語 (gitai-go), and 擬情語 (gijou-go). These words — usually two kana repeated — mimic sounds, describe states, or express emotions. They pop up constantly in anime, manga, and everyday conversation.
Three Types
| Type | Japanese | What It Describes | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 擬声語 | ぎせいご | Real sounds | ワンワン (dog barking) |
| 擬態語 | ぎたいご | States / movements | ゴロゴロ (rolling around) |
| 擬情語 | ぎじょうご | Emotions / feelings | ワクワク (excited) |
Start with These at N5
Laughter-Related
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ニコニコ | にこにこ | Smiling warmly | A gentle, friendly smile |
| ニヤニヤ | にやにや | Smirking, grinning | A sly or self-satisfied grin |
| ゲラゲラ | げらげら | Laughing loudly | Bursting out in laughter |
お母さんはいつもニコニコしています。 → Mom is always smiling.
Movement-Related
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ゴロゴロ | ごろごろ | Rolling around / lazing about | Lounging at home doing nothing |
| キラキラ | きらきら | Sparkling, glittering | Stars, shiny eyes |
| ドキドキ | どきどき | Heart pounding | Nervous or excited |
休みの日はゴロゴロしています。 → On days off, I just lounge around.
Sound-Related
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ワンワン | わんわん | Woof woof (dog) | Dog barking |
| ニャーニャー | にゃーにゃー | Meow meow (cat) | Cat meowing |
| ザーザー | ざーざー | Pouring, rushing | Heavy rain |
外はザーザー降っています。 → It's pouring outside.
How to Use Them
The most common patterns are adding する to make a verb, or adding と before another verb:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| ～する | ニコニコする → to smile |
| ～している | ドキドキしている → heart is pounding |
| ～と + verb | ニコニコと笑う → smile with a grin |
Study Tips
There are hundreds of onomatopoeia in Japanese — don't try to memorize them all at once. The best way to learn them is by watching anime or reading manga. These words appear constantly with visual context, making them easy to absorb naturally. Crayon Shin-chan is full of ゴロゴロ (Shin-chan lazing around at home) — watch it a few times and you'll remember it for life.
Summary
- Japanese onomatopoeia fall into three types: 擬声語 (sounds), 擬態語 (states), 擬情語 (emotions)
- Most follow an AB + AB repeated pattern
- Add する to make them verbs, add と to modify other verbs
- Anime and manga are the most natural way to pick them up
Practice Quiz
Q1. Both ニコニコ and ゲラゲラ are about laughter. What's the difference?
Show Answer
- ニコニコ → Warm, gentle smiling
- ゲラゲラ → Loud, boisterous laughing
ニコニコ is a soft smile; ゲラゲラ is cracking up.
Q2. What does 「休みの日はゴロゴロしています」 mean?
Show Answer
On days off, I just lounge around (doing nothing).
ゴロゴロする can mean physically rolling around, or figuratively lazing about at home with nothing to do.
Q3. Make a sentence using ドキドキ.
Show Answer
For example: テストの前にドキドキします。 → My heart pounds before a test (I get nervous).
ドキドキする = heart pounding, used for nervousness, excitement, or having a crush.