One of my favourite aspects of the Japanese language is the use of onomatopoeia – words that mean the sound they represent. Some great examples in English are the sound a car makes: vroom, or how insects and bugs sound: buzz.

Japanese takes onomatopoeia, called giongo (擬音語) to a whole new level, where it not only represents sounds made by animals and objects, but feelings, and psychological states.

Giongo can be broken down into five different categories:

• Giseigo (擬声語) – sounds that animals and humans make (like a cow mooing)
  

• Giongo (擬音語) – sounds made by nature or objects (like wind rustling through trees)
  

• Gitaigo (擬態語) – sounds that describe the state or condition of something (like feeling sticky with sweat)
  

• Giyougo (擬容語) – sounds that describe how something moves (like walking very slowly)
  

• Gijougo (擬情語) – sounds that describe feelings (like feeling irritated or annoyed)
  

Onomatopoeia is used in every day conversation, and I’m sure you’ve heard some in Sailor Moon or other anime series you’ve watched! They are often used similar to how we would use adverbs in English (but without the stigma that they’re unnecessary), but are also used as verbs, nouns, and copulas.

Under the spoiler is a list of Japanese onomatopoeia.

Can you figure out what they mean without looking them up? Some may require a bit more of an explanation over a single word that means the same. Feel free to ask for a hint – but please only ask for one hint at a time.

Onomatopoeia - GO! - Round 1 - 13/15:

Onomatopoeia - GO! - Round 2: 2/15:

Post your guesses as a reply! The translations will be added as people get them correct. More will be added it we run out.

Here's my take on the list. Years of reading manga, don't fail me now
1. That's a dog barking
2. A doorbell, I think
3. A heart beating
4. Stomach growling
5. A beetle buzzing
6. I...have no clue. Something waving gently in the breeze?
7. Someone stomping their feet?
8. That's the sound a rabbit makes.
9. A sudden dash?
10. A cats purr?
11. A roar or howl
12. a...drum?
13. This is a frog "ribbiting"
14. Someone running?
15. The sound of electricity or something zapping another thing

Oh I know Pika Pika, bless Bigbang and their japanese concerts. I just saw this yesterday. It means like sparkley. Like one member was wearing a sparkley jacket and another one kept saying pika pika, which turned into a kawaii pikachu face lol.

Pyonpyon- idk what it means but it makes me think of kyary pamyu pamyu

3. どきどき (dokidoki) -> heartbeat
5. ザーザー (zaazaa) -> water running
6. うふふ (ufufu) - laughter but like.. an evil laughter?
8. ピョンピョン (pyonpyon) -> bouncing thing?
12. ホカホカ (hokahoka) -> idk but we have a restaurant called hokahoka bento lol

You guys are awesome!
Together, you've gotten 12 out of the original 15. I've also added a round two, so feel free to try those ones!

Sailor Mercury and TS Sailor Cronus are super close with ザーザー (zaazaa). It is rainfall (and therefore water running), but it's a bit more specific than just rainfall.

TS Sailor Cronus was also super close with ガンガン (gangan) being a clanging sound - it is something metal, but it's a bit more specific. Think something that makes that type of sound in a shrine or temple.

If you want any more hints, feel free to ask!

Is zaazaa for a waterfall? And gangan for a bell? Or maybe coins in the donation box?

Also, round 2 is hard xD

18. ぺこぺこ (pekopeko) -> I feel like this might be an animal but I can only think of a chicken xD
20. ツー (tsuu) - mosquito sound?
21. ドカン (dokan) - running into something/bumping something
22. ニャニャ (nyanya) - cat??
24. ギャー (gyaa) - surprised shout?
28. ぱちぱち (pachipachi) - coins?

Haha, they are hard! Round two has more of the last three types - sounds for feelings, states, and movements, which does make them a bit harder. But I'm happy to give hints!

You're closer again with waterfall, but not quite! Think more on the rain side...
Dokan was on the right track, but not quite there.

I've updated the lists with the answers for ガンガン (gangan) - bell was right! Tsuu, nyanya, and gyaa! Nice work!

21. ドカン (dokan) - explosion noise? XD
24. ギャー (gyaa) - somebody going super-saiyan? XD
28. ぱちぱち (pachipachi) - scurrying noises for rodents?
29. ドンドン (dondon) - hitting a gong or drum?
30. ブーブー (buubuu) - a pig oinking?

I think buubuu is like a buzzer noise for an incorrect answer or something like that.