Onomatopoeia!
Japanese speakers use a lot of onomatopoeia expressions. A lot!
asked about the most common ones.
So, here are 10 of the most common and widely used Japanese onomatopoeia, the kind learners encounter early and hear constantly in daily life.
1. ドキドキ (dokidoki)
Heartbeat / nervous excitement
Used for anxiety, love, anticipation.
👉 試験の前はドキドキする。 (Before exams, my heart pounds.)
2. ワクワク (wakuwaku)
Excited anticipation
Positive excitement about something coming.
👉 旅行がワクワクする。 (I’m excited about the trip.)
3. ペラペラ (perapera)
Fluent / smoothly
Often used for languages or thin things.
👉 彼は日本語がペラペラだ。 (He’s fluent in Japanese.)
4. ぐっすり (gussuri)
Sleeping deeply
Very common in daily conversation.
👉 昨夜はぐっすり寝た。 (I slept soundly last night.)
5. ぺこぺこ (pekopeko)
Very hungry
Literally “empty and floppy.”
👉 お腹がぺこぺこだ。 (I’m starving.)
6. しーん (shiin)
Complete silence
Often used for awkward or sudden quiet.
👉 教室がしーんとなった。 (The classroom went silent.)
7. キラキラ (kirakira)
Sparkling / glittering
Used for lights, eyes, dreams.
👉 星がキラキラしている。 (The stars are sparkling.)
8. ふらふら (furafura)
Unsteady / dizzy / wandering
Physical or mental instability.
👉 寝不足でふらふらだ。 (I’m dizzy from lack of sleep.)
9. べたべた (betabeta)
Sticky / clingy
Physical stickiness or emotional clinginess.
👉 このテーブル、べたべたする。 (This table is sticky.)
10. さっぱり (sappari)
Refreshed / clean / not at all
Very versatile and very Japanese.
👉 シャワーを浴びてさっぱりした。 (I feel refreshed after a shower.)
Which ones have your heard? Which would you like to try to use?
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Onomatopoeia!
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