Japanese Onomatopoeia Guide (Audio Description)

[larethian]

This is really good stuff. Can a Mod sticky this?

[rpapo]

Here are two websites on the same topic:

http://www.lolikon.org/misc/soundfx.html
http://www.triskelion6.com/nihongo/mangasfx.asp

[larethian]

I've stickied this because of its usefulness, but I think it should be moved to Lingua forum.

[onizuka-gto]

I've stickied this because of its usefulness, but I think it should be moved to Lingua forum.

I agree.

[kuroi_shinigami]

Nice topic O_O. This should help me a lot translating those Onomatopoeia XD

[Vaelis]

This website: http://thejadednetwork.com/sfx/

[onizuka-gto]

This website: http://thejadednetwork.com/sfx/

nice! :]

[Cosmic Eagle]

Anyone knows what べしゃべしゃ is supposed to signify?

[Doraneko]

Being wet, but usually worse than びしゃびしゃ. Some people would limit its usage only to getting wet by snow.

酷いもんっすよ地面に雪積もってて、足跡がないところは水含んでべしゃべしゃ足跡のところは水が溜まってちゃぷちゃぷ水たまりの中びしゃびしゃ歩いてるようなもんっすよ靴もジーンズの裾もぺちゃぺちゃですよ もう疲れたよ・・・

「わ、ちょ、やめろや!」

『あはは、オサムちゃんもべしゃべしゃだー。』

「詩織、それを言うならべしゃべしゃやなくて、びしゃびしゃやろ。

ちょ、まだ水被らせる気か!」

びちゃびちゃ
　びちゃびちゃとピチャピチャとびしょぬれだったらびしょぬれが一番エロいですよね。
　ゆうべ積もった雪が今朝融けて、ブーツがびちゃびちゃになりました。雪の場合、べしゃべしゃとも言いますね。

[Cosmic Eagle]

I see...in my case, it's used to describe ice cream melting over one's hand.

[george44]

Part 2


H

• ha! = sound of surprise or realization. Can mean catching breath in shock or panic.
• ha, haa haa = panting, exhalation
• ha ha ha = laughter (masculine laughter, as opposed to ho ho ho, which is refined feminine laughter) (see also ahaha)
• hakkiri = clear, unambiguous
• hamu = bite, chew, glomp, as in Lively Little Hiei-chan glomping onto a spoon
• hara hara = to fall gently, like a flower petal....
• hata = soft, quiet landing noise. (for a louder rattle see gata)
• hau hau = gobbling (see also gatsu, paku)
• he he he = heh heh heh (laugh)
• hena hena = worn out, exhausted. (see also heto heto)
• henshin = transformation (as from Tsukino Usagi to Sailor Moon). We've seen it used at least once as a sound effect.
• hero hero = spineless, limp, or pliable (see also mero, pura, puran)
• heta = collapsing, sitting down in despair or exhaustion
• heto heto = worn out, exhausted. (see also hena hena)
• hiee = exclamation: eek, yikes
• hiii, hiiie = shriek
• hihiin = high-pitched whinny, as of a horse
• hiku, hiku hiku = shaking, as with anger or sobs (compare to shiku)
• hiku = hiccup
• hiri hiri = continuous pain or irritation
• hiso hiso = whisper whisper
• hiya hiya = fear, worry
• hn = huh, hrumph, humph. Traditional spelling of Hiei's traditional interjection. When anybody else says it, we've rendered it huh or humph..
• hoisatto, arayotto = K-san: "These are used when one is doing some physical task and finishing it easily. One uses either or both of them at a time."
• ho ho ho = laughter, specifically, refined feminine laughter. (see also ahahaha, ha ha ha for masculine laughter)
• hoka hoka = warmth, heat (internal or external)
• honobono = peaceful, harmonious, tranquil
• hooo = wind
• hote hote = toddle toddle (see also tote)
• hu, hua (fu, fua) = sigh
• hu hu hu = (or fu fu fu) a strange laugh
• hu-e = cry, wail (see also e, miiii)
• hun = huh, hrumph, humph (see hn)
• hunka hunka (funka funka) = sniff sniff
• hyoi = popping up suddenly, quick movement such as reaching
• hyoko = popping up suddenly
• hyu, hyun = quick movement, such as the leaps Hiei makes, or Kurama's whip moving (see also byu, gyu, pyu)
• hyuuuuu = cold wind, lonely wind

I

• icha icha, ichakura ichakura = displaying affection in public. K-san: "touching and carrying on." Acting spoony. ^_-
• ira ira = fume fume. It's also been suggested that this is the sound of clenched or grinding teeth.
• iso iso = moving blithely, happily

J

• ja, jaaaa = water/liquid flowing or rushing, or any other hissing sound (see also jo, ju, zu)
• ja ja ja = hiss hiss hiss (such as the sound of Kurama frying something)
• jabon = big splash (see also shapu, zabu, and bashan, picha, pisha for smaller splashes)
• jaki = glint of something sharp
• jan, jan jan = tada!
• jiiiiii, jiiiin, jiiiito, jiiiton = the sound of staring, of silence, or of remaining frozen/ motionless. Often used in djs to indicate that a character is moved beyond words, stunned beyond words, or just generally beyond words. (see also shiiiin) As a word, jitto emphasizes being motionless, jiitto emphasizes the duration of being still.
• jiku jiku = numbness
• jiro, jiro-jiro-to = a hard look. 'Jiro-jiro-to' means 'in a fixed, staring manner.'
• jiri, jiri jiri = something scraping on the ground. Sometimes used for a charater inching forward or backward
• jitabata = flail one's arms and legs (or one's tail, in the case of 'The Mermaid Princess' ) (compare to dotabata for running around in confusion)
• jiwa = tears welling up
• jiwa jiwa = slowly but steadily
• jo, joro joro = water/liquid flowing or pouring (see also dara dara, jururu, zururu)
• jururu = drool (see also dara dara, jo, zururu)

K

• ka(a) = light (see also pa, po)
• ka, kan = heels going click, footsteps
• kaa = face turning red, blushing (see also po)
• kacha = the click of something opening, such as a latch, a door, or even a belt (see also gacha)
• kaji = bite, gnaw, sink your little fangs into (see also agi, agu, kari)
• kaku = scratching, running a hand through hair, paddling a hand in water
• kaku, kakun = shaking, wobbling, losing balance (see also gaku)
• kapan = rattle, open (compare to batan, patan for closing)
• kara = empty
• karakara = bone dry
• karan = rattle, open
• kari kari = something scratching on something else, e.g., a pen on paper, somebody's little fangs on your head
• kasa, kase = rustle. Commonly used for a quiet footstep in the grass, also can be paper, cloth, or other material rustling.
• katsu katsu = clomp clomp
• kehen = cough (see also geho, gofu, goho, kon, koho)
• kerori = unaffected, casual, unimpressed
• ki = glare, the glint of a dagger eye
• kii = squeak, high-pitched sound, as in a door squeaking
• kiiiii! = long high-pitched sound: brakes squealing, hysterical scream (see also biiii for shrieking)
• kichi kichi = full, jam-packed
• kichin, kichinto = meticulously, carefully
• kin kon, kan kon, kin koun (and other variations) = ding dong, as of a school bell (see also pin pon)
• kippari = flatly, definitely, clearly (to say something this way)
• kira, kiran, kirari = twinkle, shine, glint (see also gira)
• kiri kiri = scratching or scraping, less vigorous than giri
• kiri kiri = business, haste
• kishi = creaking (see also gishi)
• kochoku = frozen, paralyzed
• koho = cough (see also goho, kehen, kon)
• koi = come on (as a fighting phrase)
• koi koi = come, come, beckoning
• kokun = swallow (see also goku, gokun)
• kokuri, kokkun = nod
• kon = quiet impact, such as knocking at a door
• kon = soft cough (see also goho, kehen, koho)
• kopo = pouring
• kori = crunch, as in eating. K-san: "Pori pori is the quietest crunching. Pori pori is for cookies; bari bari is for chips. Kori kori is for broccoli and asparagus." (see also bari, pari, pori)
• kori kori = scraping
• koro, koron = dropping something, something rolling or tumbling (see also poro)
• koshi koshi = rubbing, wiping (see also goshi, geshi)
• koso, kossori = sneaky, doing something stealthily
• koto, kotsun = little clink, like the sound of a glass being put down or a tear gem falling.
• kotsu kotsu = slowly but surely
• ku = sleeping (see also gu, supigu, suka, suya)
• ku, ku ku, ku ku ku = giggle in the throat
• ku, kukyururu, kyururu = stomach rumbling, tummy growling
• kudo kudo = repetitive
• kuha = yawn (see also fua, fa)
• kukaa = sleepy breathing
• kukuri = distinct, clear
• kun kun = smelling
• kune kune = wiggling like a snake (see also nyoro nyoro)
• kunka kunka = sniff sniff (as of smelling). (see also funka, hunka, nku)
• kura = dizziness (see also fura)
• kurin = curling (as in the movement of tentacles or an unhappy dog's tail)
• kuru = turning
• kusha, kushu, kushun = sneeze: ker-choo!
• kusu = little laugh
• kuta, kutari = droopy, wilted, limp. Used to describe people or plants. (see also guttari)
• kya = shriek (see also gya)
• kyapi kyapi = happy noisy girlish chattering
• kyoro kyoro = looking this way and that, searching for something with the eyes
• kyu, gyu = grab
• kyururu, ku, kukyururu = stomach rumbling, tummy growling

M

• meki meki = quick progress
• mero mero = limp, floppy (see also hero, pura, puran)
• meso meso = whimper, sniffle
• miii = cry, wail (see also e, hu-e)
• Miin miin = The sound of cicadas in the summer
• mishi mishi = creak creak
• moji moji = shyness
• moku = eating, munching, like eating sushi or nigiri. whether with the help of spoons, forks, or chopsticks from https://chopsaber.com.au/ (see also mugu)
• momi = groping (this one comes up a lot, sadly)
• mu, musu, mumuu, muun = grimace, anger, sulkiness. It's been suggested that the sound of 'mu' is a sort of closed-mouth grunt--perhaps similar to the sound of disapproval Marge Simpson makes?
• mugu, muku = eating, munching with closed mouth (see also moku)
• muka muka = sick, nauseated
• muku = getting up, sitting up
• munyu = The sound of groping--usually a girl's chest
• mura mura = sexual arousal

N

• n? = Hm? Huh?
• n = a grunt, as of surprise, effort, sleepiness, pain, or passion. We've had translators render the actual sound in different ways: mm, n, nh, ngh, ng, ung, unh. Lately we've been going with nh or ng.
• nade nade = stroke stroke, pet pet
• nashi = smack (see also bashi, pashi)
• nchu = kiss (see also buchu, chu, uchu)
• ni, niko, nikori = smile, grin (see also nipa, nita)
• nipa(a) = brilliant smile, grin (see also niko, nita)
• nisho = effort (see also nsho, nshotto, yoisho)
• nita = sinister smile (see also niko, nipa)
• niyari, nyari = leer
• nku = sniff sniff, inhale (see also funka, hunka, kunka)
• nnuuu = see nuuu
• noro noro = slowness
• nsho, nshotto = effort (see also nisho, unsho, yoisho)
• nukenuke, nukenuketo = nonchalantly (to speak or act that way)
• nuru, nuru nuru, nurun = greasing, soaping, making slippery
• nuuuu = menace. W-san: "'Nuu' is often used when something unknown, mysterious, or big appears out of nowhere."
• nyari, niyari = leer
• nyoro nyoro = W-san: "Something long and thin like a snake moving along with a wriggling motion." (see also kune kune)

O

• oi = hey!
• oisho, yoisho, nsho, nshotto, nisho = effort, strain: Oof! Umph!
• oo! = approving exclamation: Oh! Whoa!
• oooo = wind howling
• oooo = menacing roar, animal or mechanical (such as the roar of an engine) (see also buroro)
• ora ora = what you say when you punch somebody repeatedly. A fighting taunt or war cry; we've had it loosely translated as "Take that!" "Try this!" (see also dorya, orya, sorya, uraa)
• oro oro = shock, surprise, befuddlement, confusion. (You don't usually say it, though, unlike Kenshin.)
• orya = what to yell as you attack; a fighting taunt or war cry. (see also dorya, ora, sorya, uraa)
• osoru osoru = timidly

P

• pa(a) = light, shining (see also ka, po)
• pachi = K-san: "A sharp, snappy sound." Can be click, crackle, clap, crack, etc. We've seen it used for opening eyes, bursting veins, clapping, and indeterminate ominous things happening.
• paka = opening, separating. W-san: "A sound describing something opening in half. Like when Peachboy came out of his giant peach, the sound the peach made was 'paka.'"
• paka = snap
• paku = closing mouth on food, chomp (see also gapu)
• paku paku = opening and closing mouth, eating, gobbling. This is where Pac-man came from! (see also hau, gatsu)
• pan = sudden impact
• pan pan = pat, pat or smack, smack, as of dusting hands (or oneself) off
• pari = crunch, as in eating (see also bari, kori, pori)
• pari pari = crackle, as of energy or electricity. Quieter than bari bari.
• parin = crash, clash pasa = rustling, e.g. cloth sliding, paper moving
• pasha = splashing, as with the hand (see also pisha) For a big splash, see zabun.
• pashi = impact: smack! click! (see also bashi, nashi)
• pata pata = flap flap
• patata = spatter spatter
• patan = door slamming (see also batan)
• pechanko, peshanko = flattened, crushed
• peko = bow
• peko peko = bow over and over (grovel)
• pero, pero pero = licking (see also bero)
• peron = rolling up or down, or flipping
• petan, petanto = smooth, flat. Also, to flop down on the floor.
• pi = beep, peep, any other short high-pitched sound
• pi, picha, pichon = drip (see also po, pochan, pota)
• pichi = flap, bounce, snap (see also bichi)
• piiii = shrill sound, beeper, telephone, whistle
• piii piii = chirp chirp
• piku, pikuri = blink, noticing something. May be from piku = twitch = pricking up the ears.
• piku = twitch
• pin pon = ding dong, bell (see also kin kon)
• piri = tearing, as in ripping cloth, opening a potato chip bag ) see also biri
• piri piri = sharp sensation, as of pain, electricity, spiciness. Can be the sharpness or electricity of a glare.
• pisha = splashing, as with the hand (see also pasha) For a big splash, see zabun.
• pishi = crack (as of a whip), smack (see also bishi)
• pita = stopping
• pito = gentle touch
• piyo = peep
• po, pochan, pota = drip, plunk. Pochan = kerplunk! (see also pi, picha, pichon, pochi)
• po = flame, light. Can also be blushing. For other fire sounds see bo, gooo, guooo. Other light sounds include paa, kaa.
• Po = Po's nom de plume. Has nothing to do with sound effects, and everything to do with Tinky Winky, Dipsy, and Laa Laa.
• pochi pochi = something happening steadily, as in water dripping
• poi = throwing or tossing something
• poka = impact
• poka poka = warmth of the sun
• pon = impact, fairly quiet
• pon, pom = sound of magical transformation or appearance, often seen with a puff of smoke (see also bon, dororonpa)
• pootto = dazed, obsessed
• pori pori = eating, crunching, softer than 'bari bari.' K-san: "Pori pori is the quietest crunching. Pori pori is for cookies; bari bari is for chips. Kori kori is for broccoli and asparagus." (see also bari, kori, pari)
• poro, poto = dropping something, something rolling (see also koro, koron)
• potsun = aloneness, separation
• puchi puchi = pop pop, crackle crackle
• puku, pukupuku = swelling, something swollen (see also buku)
• pun pun = bad-smelling
• pu pu pu, upupupu = yet another strange laugh (see also fu fu fu)
• pura pura, puran = limp, floppy (see also hero, mero)
• puri puri = anger (see also puuu)
• puru = shake, quiver (see also puri, furu)
• pusu = puncturing, penetrating
• pusu pusu = the sound of something smoldering or smoking (see also busu busu)
• puu = puff
• puuuu = anger (see also puri puri)
• puutto = snort, honk, toot (from a horn or any bodily orifice ^_^)
• pyu = fast motion (see also byu, gyu, hyu)

Nice! I am currently learning Japanese and this is very helpful. Thank you for this.