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Sounds of Japan ~ Onomataopoeia
The Japanese have a completely different set of sound effects, or onomataopoeia, than what we have. Take a look below and see what your favorite sounds effects sound like in Japanese. If you wish to submit something I missed please feel free to email me.

Animal Onomataopoeia

chuu chuu Squeaking sound as in the sounds of mice, hampsters, kissing, insects, and other such noises.

gara gara Snake sound.

hiin hiin Horse sound.

kero kero Frog sound.

kyonpy This is not so much a word as it is an action. It is a meaningles word. "Kyon" is a visual action of rabbits jumping and "-py", or "-pi" is a childish sound

mane mane Monkey sound. Mimicing sound.

nyan nyan Cat sound. The word, "nyanko" is a childish way to say cat, as in "kitty".

pao pao Elephant sound.

piyo piyo Chick or small bird sound. (cheep cheep).

poi / paku Sound from a carp's mouth. (koi = carp)

wan wan This is the 'sound' a dog makes.


People Onomataopoeia

butsu butsu Whispering sound.

dosun dosun Walking sound.

gaku gaku Trembling sound.

gaya gaya Crowded area.

gyaa gyaa Screaming sound.

hotto It is the sounds of being relieved.

kyaa Scream.

pachi pachi Clapping sound.

pero pero Sound made from licking candy.

tamaya A word used to cheer for good fireworks.


Inanimate Objects & Misc. Onomataopoeia

ban ban "Bang bang"

biri biri The sound of electricity

dokkan The sound of crashing into something.

dosun Thud when something hits the ground.

gari gari This is the 'sound' a drill makes.

gasa gasa Sound of something that is dry and rough.

jara jara Sound made from a ball falling from a Pachinko. Pachino is a gambling device similar to a slot machine that uses balls instead of tokens.

jori jori Sound of rough, unshaven whiskers.

pan pan Banging sound.

ting Sound when a ball falls through a hole in a Pachinko.

zaa zaa Rain sound.

zabbun The sounds of jumping into water

 

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