Japanese Onomatopoeia: Doki Doki, Waku Waku & 20 More (Audio)

The short answer

Giongo imitate real sounds (rain, barking). Gitaigo describe states and feelings.
Many are doubled: ドキドキ, ワクワク, キラキラ.
They often combine with する: ドキドキする (my heart is pounding).
You’ll see them in daily speech, ads, menus and, of course, manga.

Feelings

ドキドキdoki doki
heart pounding (nerves, love)
ワクワクwaku waku
excited, thrilled
イライラira ira
irritated, annoyed
ハラハラhara hara
on edge, anxious (watching)
ニコニコniko niko
smiling
ほっとhotto
relieved

Textures and food

ふわふわfuwa fuwa
fluffy, softふわふわのパンケーキ: fluffy pancakes.
もちもちmochi mochi
chewy, springy
サクサクsaku saku
crispy, crunchy (light)
ネバネバneba neba
sticky, slimy (like natto)
つるつるtsuru tsuru
smooth, slippery (noodles)

States and actions

ペラペラpera pera
fluent (speaking)にほんごがペラペラです: speaks Japanese fluently.
キラキラkira kira
sparkling, glittering
ゴロゴロgoro goro
lazing around / rumbling (thunder)
ぐっすりgussuri
(sleep) soundly
ぺこぺこpeko peko
starving (おなかがぺこぺこ)
ぴったりpittari
perfectly fitting, exactly

Real sounds

ザーザーzā zā
pouring rain
しとしとshito shito
gentle, steady rain
ドンドンdon don
banging, knocking
シーンshīn
(the sound of) silence

Yes, Japanese even has a sound for silence. Manga artists use シーン for awkward quiet moments. Animal sounds are in animals in Japanese.

How to use them

ドキドキしていますdoki doki shite imasu
My heart is pounding.+ する as a verb.
あめがザーザーふっていますame ga zā zā futte imasu
It’s pouring with rain.As an adverb before the verb.
ふわふわのケーキfuwa fuwa no kēki
a fluffy cake+ の before a noun.

Weather and nature

ぽかぽかpoka poka
pleasantly warm (sunshine)
じめじめjime jime
damp, humid
ビュービューbyū byū
howling wind
ゴロゴロgoro goro
rumbling thunder
きらきらkira kira
twinkling (stars)

じめじめ is the word everyone uses during the rainy season. See the weather in Japanese.

How you feel physically

ズキズキzuki zuki
throbbing painあたまがズキズキする: a throbbing headache.
ヒリヒリhiri hiri
stinging, burning
ふらふらfura fura
dizzy, unsteady
クタクタkuta kuta
exhausted
ペコペコpeko peko
starving

Why Japanese has so many

Japanese has thousands of these words, far more than English. They pack a whole sensation into two syllables, which makes them perfect for everyday speech, advertising, menus and manga. Many follow the pattern ABAB (ドキドキ), AっBり (ぐっすり, ぴったり) or Aっ (ほっと). Once you notice the patterns, you’ll start guessing new ones.

Sound check0/3

ワクワク means:
Someone speaks Japanese fluently. They’re:
おなかがぺこぺこ means:

Frequently asked questions

What is Japanese onomatopoeia?

Japanese has many sound-symbolic words: giongo imitate real sounds (like ザーザー for pouring rain) and gitaigo describe states and feelings (like ドキドキ for a pounding heart or ふわふわ for fluffy).

What does doki doki mean?

ドキドキ describes a pounding heart, from nervousness, excitement or love.

What does waku waku mean?

ワクワク means excited or thrilled, especially when looking forward to something.

What is the difference between giongo and gitaigo?

擬音語 (giongo) imitate actual sounds, like ザーザー for heavy rain. 擬態語 (gitaigo) describe states, textures or feelings that make no sound, like ふわふわ (fluffy) or イライラ (irritated).