[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-article-local-japanese-mimetic-words-gitaigo-guide":3,"$fHZsWYl_LcdVZ5GxKwtR-ZqvCZbbUdo2_Fi6R_GQKiQM":4,"blog-article-cms-japanese-mimetic-words-gitaigo-guide":6,"article-hreflang-japanese-mimetic-words-gitaigo-guide":1413,"blog-article-related-japanese-mimetic-words-gitaigo-guide":1414},null,{"approximate_member_count":5},20559,{"id":7,"documentId":8,"title":9,"description":10,"timestampUnix":11,"slug":12,"h1":9,"image":13,"tags":19,"lang":3,"body":22,"createdAt":1407,"updatedAt":1408,"publishedAt":1409,"category":1410,"featured":1411,"timestamp":1412,"locale":-1,"_dir":1410},3607,"cdhen6fgztc21ve7xl69wsvn","Japanese Mimetic Words: Gitaigo & Sound Symbolism Guide","Japanese mimetic words like gitaigo and giongo are more than just words that imitate sounds. Discover how onomatopoeic or mimetic words work with examples.","1772578860000","japanese-mimetic-words-gitaigo-guide",{"alt":14,"src":15,"width":16,"height":17,"previewOnly":18},"Japanese gitaigo and sound symbolic words - Banner","https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002Fdiamond_group_placed_dark_blurred_background_reflective_surface_136403_46350_7411e93634\u002Fdiamond_group_placed_dark_blurred_background_reflective_surface_136403_46350_7411e93634.avif",1000,768,false,[20,21],"vocabulary","phrases",{"data":23,"body":26,"toc":1374},{"title":24,"description":25},"","If you've spent any time reading Japanese manga or watching anime when learning Japanese, you've probably noticed those weird sound effect words scattered everywhere. Words like  (heart pounding) or  (sparkling) that seem to capture feelings and sensations in ways English just can't match. These are Japanese mimetic words, and they're a huge part of how native speakers actually communicate. The Japanese language has literally thousands of these sound symbolic expressions, and learning them will make you sound way more natural than just memorizing verb conjugations ever could.",{"type":27,"children":28},"root",[29,71,75,79,86,109,122,136,153,160,165,170,198,201,207,212,218,235,240,281,286,292,307,312,351,357,362,377,382,420,425,431,447,452,490,493,499,504,510,515,549,555,566,596,602,607,625,628,634,639,645,650,688,694,699,704,710,715,738,743,746,752,757,1095,1098,1104,1109,1115,1120,1130,1136,1141,1146,1227,1233,1238,1243,1249,1264,1270,1275,1280,1288,1294,1297,1303,1327,1330,1341,1344,1350,1355,1369],{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":32,"children":33},"element","p",{},[34,37,46,48,54,56,60,62,69],{"type":35,"value":36},"text","If you've spent any time reading Japanese manga or watching anime when ",{"type":30,"tag":38,"props":39,"children":43},"a",{"href":40,"rel":41},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Flearn-japanese",[42],"nofollow",[44],{"type":35,"value":45},"learning Japanese",{"type":35,"value":47},", you've probably noticed those weird sound effect words scattered everywhere. Words like ",{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":50,"children":53},"typo",{"lang":51,"syntax":52},"ja","ドキドキ[どきどき;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":55}," (heart pounding) or ",{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":57,"children":59},{"lang":51,"syntax":58},"キラキラ[きらきら;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":61}," (sparkling) that seem to capture feelings and sensations in ways English just can't match. These are Japanese mimetic words, and they're a huge part of how native speakers actually communicate. The Japanese language has literally thousands of these sound symbolic expressions, and learning them will make you sound way more natural than just memorizing ",{"type":30,"tag":38,"props":63,"children":66},{"href":64,"rel":65},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-verb-conjugation",[42],[67],{"type":35,"value":68},"verb conjugation",{"type":35,"value":70},"s ever could.",{"type":30,"tag":72,"props":73,"children":74},"toc",{},[],{"type":30,"tag":76,"props":77,"children":78},"hr",{},[],{"type":30,"tag":80,"props":81,"children":83},"h2",{"id":82},"what-are-japanese-mimetic-words-anyway",[84],{"type":35,"value":85},"What are Japanese mimetic words anyway",{"type":30,"tag":87,"props":88,"children":89},"blockquote",{},[90,96,98,102,104],{"type":30,"tag":91,"props":92,"children":93},"centered-text",{"bold":24,"underline":24},[94],{"type":35,"value":95},"\n💡 Definition 💡 \n",{"type":35,"value":97},"\n  \n",{"type":30,"tag":99,"props":100,"children":101},"br",{},[],{"type":35,"value":103},"\n \n",{"type":30,"tag":91,"props":105,"children":106},{},[107],{"type":35,"value":108},"\nJapanese mimetic words are expressions that represent sounds, actions, states, or feelings through phonetic imitation. \n",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":110,"children":111},{},[112,114,120],{"type":35,"value":113},"The Japanese language uses these words constantly in everyday conversation, way more than English speakers use onomatopoeia. While English has basic sound words like \"boom\" or \"splash,\" Japanese has developed an incredibly rich system of mimetic ",{"type":30,"tag":38,"props":115,"children":118},{"href":116,"rel":117},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fhow-to-learn-japanese-vocabulary",[42],[119],{"type":35,"value":20},{"type":35,"value":121}," that covers everything from the sound of rain to the feeling of being anxious to the texture of slippery objects.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":123,"children":124},{},[125,127,134],{"type":35,"value":126},"Here's the thing: these aren't just cute additions to the language. Native speakers use mimetic words all the time to add nuance and specificity to their descriptions. You'll hear them in casual conversation, see them in professional writing, and they're absolutely everywhere in ",{"type":30,"tag":38,"props":128,"children":131},{"href":129,"rel":130},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fanime-japanese-history",[42],[132],{"type":35,"value":133},"manga and anime",{"type":35,"value":135},". Understanding them makes a massive difference in comprehension.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":137,"children":138},{},[139,141,145,147,151],{"type":35,"value":140},"The Japanese term for these expressions is ",{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":142,"children":144},{"lang":51,"syntax":143},"擬音語[ぎおんご;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":146}," and ",{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":148,"children":150},{"lang":51,"syntax":149},"擬態語[ぎたいご;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":152},", which we'll break down in the next section.",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":155,"children":157},"h3",{"id":156},"where-japanese-mimetic-words-come-from",[158],{"type":35,"value":159},"Where Japanese mimetic words come from",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":161,"children":162},{},[163],{"type":35,"value":164},"The origin of Japanese mimetic words is tied to the language's phonetic structure and cultural emphasis on sensory description. Japanese has a relatively simple syllable structure compared to English, which actually makes it easier to create these words that mimic sounds.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":166,"children":167},{},[168],{"type":35,"value":169},"Historically, mimetic words have been part of Japanese for centuries, appearing in classical literature and poetry. They've evolved and expanded over time, with new ones being created even today. You'll see modern mimetic words in manga and internet slang that didn't exist 20 years ago.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":171,"children":172},{},[173,175,182,184,191,193,196],{"type":35,"value":174},"The writing system also plays a role. Mimetic words are usually written in katakana in modern Japanese, which visually sets them apart and signals their special function. In older texts, you might see them in ",{"type":30,"tag":38,"props":176,"children":179},{"href":177,"rel":178},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fthe-japanese-language-hiragana",[42],[180],{"type":35,"value":181},"hiragana",{"type":35,"value":183},", and some standardized ones have ",{"type":30,"tag":38,"props":185,"children":188},{"href":186,"rel":187},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fhow-to-learn-kanji",[42],[189],{"type":35,"value":190},"kanji",{"type":35,"value":192}," representations like ",{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":194,"children":195},{"lang":51,"syntax":143},[],{"type":35,"value":197},".",{"type":30,"tag":76,"props":199,"children":200},{},[],{"type":30,"tag":80,"props":202,"children":204},{"id":203},"the-main-types-of-onomatopoeia-and-mimetic-words-in-japanese",[205],{"type":35,"value":206},"The main types of onomatopoeia and mimetic words in Japanese",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":208,"children":209},{},[210],{"type":35,"value":211},"Japanese divides mimetic words into several distinct categories based on what they represent. This classification system helps organize the thousands of expressions you'll encounter.",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":213,"children":215},{"id":214},"giseigo-擬声語-animal-and-human-sounds",[216],{"type":35,"value":217},"Giseigo (擬声語): Animal and human sounds",{"type":30,"tag":87,"props":219,"children":220},{},[221,225,227,233],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":222,"children":224},{"lang":51,"syntax":223},"擬声語[ぎせいご;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":226},"\n (giseigo) represents \n",{"type":30,"tag":228,"props":229,"children":230},"strong",{},[231],{"type":35,"value":232},"sounds made by living things",{"type":35,"value":234},"\n. These are probably the closest to what English speakers think of as traditional onomatopoeia.\n",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":236,"children":237},{},[238],{"type":35,"value":239},"Some common examples:",{"type":30,"tag":241,"props":242,"children":243},"ul",{},[244,254,263,272],{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":246,"children":247},"li",{},[248,252],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":249,"children":251},{"lang":51,"syntax":250},"ワンワン[わんわん;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":253},"\n (wan wan) - dog barking\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":255,"children":256},{},[257,261],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":258,"children":260},{"lang":51,"syntax":259},"ニャーニャー[にゃーにゃー;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":262},"\n (nyaa nyaa) - cat meowing\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":264,"children":265},{},[266,270],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":267,"children":269},{"lang":51,"syntax":268},"ゲラゲラ[げらげら;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":271},"\n (gera gera) - loud laughter\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":273,"children":274},{},[275,279],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":276,"children":278},{"lang":51,"syntax":277},"ペラペラ[ぺらぺら;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":280},"\n (pera pera) - speaking fluently\n",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":282,"children":283},{},[284],{"type":35,"value":285},"That last one is interesting because it literally sounds like rapid talking, and Japanese people use it all the time to describe someone who speaks a language fluently.",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":287,"children":289},{"id":288},"giongo-擬音語-non-living-sounds",[290],{"type":35,"value":291},"Giongo (擬音語): Non-living sounds",{"type":30,"tag":87,"props":293,"children":294},{},[295,298,300,305],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":296,"children":297},{"lang":51,"syntax":143},[],{"type":35,"value":299},"\n (giongo) covers \n",{"type":30,"tag":228,"props":301,"children":302},{},[303],{"type":35,"value":304},"sounds made by inanimate objects and natural phenomena",{"type":35,"value":306},"\n. This category overlaps somewhat with giseigo, and many Japanese speakers use the term giongo as an umbrella term for both.\n",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":308,"children":309},{},[310],{"type":35,"value":311},"Examples include:",{"type":30,"tag":241,"props":313,"children":314},{},[315,324,333,342],{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":316,"children":317},{},[318,322],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":319,"children":321},{"lang":51,"syntax":320},"ザーザー[ざーざー;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":323},"\n (zaa zaa) - heavy rain pouring\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":325,"children":326},{},[327,331],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":328,"children":330},{"lang":51,"syntax":329},"ゴロゴロ[ごろごろ;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":332},"\n (goro goro) - thunder rumbling\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":334,"children":335},{},[336,340],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":337,"children":339},{"lang":51,"syntax":338},"カチカチ[かちかち;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":341},"\n (kachi kachi) - clicking or ticking sound\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":343,"children":344},{},[345,349],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":346,"children":348},{"lang":51,"syntax":347},"ドンドン[どんどん;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":350},"\n (don don) - pounding or banging\n",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":352,"children":354},{"id":353},"gitaigo-擬態語-states-and-conditions",[355],{"type":35,"value":356},"Gitaigo (擬態語): States and conditions",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":358,"children":359},{},[360],{"type":35,"value":361},"Here's where Japanese gets really interesting.",{"type":30,"tag":87,"props":363,"children":364},{},[365,368,370,375],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":366,"children":367},{"lang":51,"syntax":149},[],{"type":35,"value":369},"\n (gitaigo) represents \n",{"type":30,"tag":228,"props":371,"children":372},{},[373],{"type":35,"value":374},"states, conditions, and manners of action",{"type":35,"value":376},"\n that don't actually make sounds. This category doesn't have a direct equivalent in English, and it's where Japanese mimetic words really shine.\n",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":378,"children":379},{},[380],{"type":35,"value":381},"Common gitaigo examples:",{"type":30,"tag":241,"props":383,"children":384},{},[385,393,402,411],{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":386,"children":387},{},[388,391],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":389,"children":390},{"lang":51,"syntax":58},[],{"type":35,"value":392},"\n (kira kira) - sparkling, glittering\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":394,"children":395},{},[396,400],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":397,"children":399},{"lang":51,"syntax":398},"フワフワ[ふわふわ;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":401},"\n (fuwa fuwa) - fluffy, soft, floating\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":403,"children":404},{},[405,409],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":406,"children":408},{"lang":51,"syntax":407},"ツルツル[つるつる;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":410},"\n (tsuru tsuru) - smooth, slippery\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":412,"children":413},{},[414,418],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":415,"children":417},{"lang":51,"syntax":416},"ヌルヌル[ぬるぬる;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":419},"\n (nuru nuru) - slimy, slippery (in a wet way)\n",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":421,"children":422},{},[423],{"type":35,"value":424},"To answer that question about sound symbolism: nurunuru definitely means slimy, not dry. The \"nuru\" sound in Japanese tends to evoke wet, slippery sensations. Once you start paying attention, you'll notice patterns in how certain sounds correlate with certain meanings.",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":426,"children":428},{"id":427},"gijougo-擬情語-feelings-and-emotions",[429],{"type":35,"value":430},"Gijougo (擬情語): Feelings and emotions",{"type":30,"tag":87,"props":432,"children":433},{},[434,438,440,445],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":435,"children":437},{"lang":51,"syntax":436},"擬情語[ぎじょうご;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":439},"\n (gijougo) describes \n",{"type":30,"tag":228,"props":441,"children":442},{},[443],{"type":35,"value":444},"emotional states and psychological conditions",{"type":35,"value":446},"\n. Some people consider this a subcategory of gitaigo, but it's worth highlighting separately.\n",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":448,"children":449},{},[450],{"type":35,"value":451},"Examples:",{"type":30,"tag":241,"props":453,"children":454},{},[455,463,472,481],{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":456,"children":457},{},[458,461],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":459,"children":460},{"lang":51,"syntax":52},[],{"type":35,"value":462},"\n (doki doki) - heart pounding from excitement or nervousness\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":464,"children":465},{},[466,470],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":467,"children":469},{"lang":51,"syntax":468},"ワクワク[わくわく;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":471},"\n (waku waku) - excited anticipation\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":473,"children":474},{},[475,479],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":476,"children":478},{"lang":51,"syntax":477},"イライラ[いらいら;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":480},"\n (ira ira) - irritated, frustrated\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":482,"children":483},{},[484,488],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":485,"children":487},{"lang":51,"syntax":486},"ウキウキ[うきうき;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":489},"\n (uki uki) - cheerful, buoyant mood\n",{"type":30,"tag":76,"props":491,"children":492},{},[],{"type":30,"tag":80,"props":494,"children":496},{"id":495},"how-japanese-onomatopoeia-words-and-mimetic-words-work-in-grammar",[497],{"type":35,"value":498},"How Japanese onomatopoeia words and mimetic words work in grammar",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":500,"children":501},{},[502],{"type":35,"value":503},"Mimetic words are incredibly flexible in Japanese grammar. They can function as adverbs, verbs, adjectives, and even nouns depending on how you use them.",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":505,"children":507},{"id":506},"as-adverbs",[508],{"type":35,"value":509},"As adverbs",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":511,"children":512},{},[513],{"type":35,"value":514},"The most common usage is as an adverb modifying a verb. You just place the mimetic word before the verb it describes.",{"type":30,"tag":241,"props":516,"children":517},{},[518,534],{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":519,"children":520},{},[521,525,528],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":522,"children":524},{"lang":51,"syntax":523},"雨[あめ;h]がザーザー 降[ふ;a]って いる[あめがざーざーふっている;h]",[],{"type":30,"tag":99,"props":526,"children":527},{},[],{"type":30,"tag":529,"props":530,"children":531},"em",{},[532],{"type":35,"value":533},"The rain is pouring down heavily.",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":535,"children":536},{},[537,541,544],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":538,"children":540},{"lang":51,"syntax":539},"彼女[かのじょ;h]はニコニコ 笑[わら;a] った[かのじょはにこにこわらった;h]",[],{"type":30,"tag":99,"props":542,"children":543},{},[],{"type":30,"tag":529,"props":545,"children":546},{},[547],{"type":35,"value":548},"She smiled cheerfully.",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":550,"children":552},{"id":551},"with-suru-verb",[553],{"type":35,"value":554},"With suru verb",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":556,"children":557},{},[558,560,564],{"type":35,"value":559},"You can attach ",{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":561,"children":563},{"lang":51,"syntax":562},"する[する;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":565}," (suru, \"to do\") to many mimetic words to create verbs. This is super productive in Japanese.",{"type":30,"tag":241,"props":567,"children":568},{},[569,578,587],{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":570,"children":571},{},[572,576],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":573,"children":575},{"lang":51,"syntax":574},"キラキラする[きらきらする;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":577},"\n (kira kira suru) - to sparkle\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":579,"children":580},{},[581,585],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":582,"children":584},{"lang":51,"syntax":583},"ドキドキする[どきどきする;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":586},"\n (doki doki suru) - to feel one's heart pound\n",{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":588,"children":589},{},[590,594],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":591,"children":593},{"lang":51,"syntax":592},"イライラする[いらいらする;h]",[],{"type":35,"value":595},"\n (ira ira suru) - to feel irritated\n",{"type":30,"tag":154,"props":597,"children":599},{"id":598},"describing-objects-and-states",[600],{"type":35,"value":601},"Describing objects and states",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":603,"children":604},{},[605],{"type":35,"value":606},"Mimetic words can describe the inherent quality of an object or state when combined with certain grammatical patterns.",{"type":30,"tag":241,"props":608,"children":609},{},[610],{"type":30,"tag":245,"props":611,"children":612},{},[613,617,620],{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":614,"children":616},{"lang":51,"syntax":615},"このクッションはフワフワだ[このくっしょんはふわふわだ;h]",[],{"type":30,"tag":99,"props":618,"children":619},{},[],{"type":30,"tag":529,"props":621,"children":622},{},[623],{"type":35,"value":624},"This cushion is fluffy.",{"type":30,"tag":76,"props":626,"children":627},{},[],{"type":30,"tag":80,"props":629,"children":631},{"id":630},"sound-patterns-and-meaning-in-japanese",[632],{"type":35,"value":633},"Sound patterns and meaning in Japanese",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":635,"children":636},{},[637],{"type":35,"value":638},"One of the coolest things about Japanese mimetic words is that the sounds themselves carry meaning. 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The globalization of manga and anime has also spread Japanese mimetic words into other languages, with fans worldwide recognizing words like \n",{"type":30,"tag":49,"props":1337,"children":1338},{"lang":51,"syntax":52},[],{"type":35,"value":1340},"\n even without formal Japanese study.\n",{"type":30,"tag":76,"props":1342,"children":1343},{},[],{"type":30,"tag":80,"props":1345,"children":1347},{"id":1346},"is-learning-japanese-sound-effects-a-must",[1348],{"type":35,"value":1349},"Is learning Japanese sound effects a must?",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":1351,"children":1352},{},[1353],{"type":35,"value":1354},"Japanese onomatopoeic expressions are especially important for understanding manga and anime, where mimetic words appear constantly as sound effects and to convey atmosphere. Try reading a manga page without understanding the mimetic words, and you'll miss a lot of the emotional and sensory information the author intended. On the other hand, if you can understand a lot of mimetic words, that, in return, makes your experience of reading and watching much more enjoyable and relatable!",{"type":30,"tag":87,"props":1356,"children":1357},{},[1358],{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":1359,"children":1360},{},[1361,1363,1368],{"type":35,"value":1362},"If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. 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