Bridge the gap between what you lear in class
‘and what you actually need to converse!
‘Onomatopoeia—words such as “glug aug,” “pow,”
and “splash” in Englch are an intogral pat of Japa
nese. Japanese people draw on a wealth of onomato-
poea to express sublefeoings, images, sounds, and
betons, With his book you too can become pera pera
e fhuent—in Japanese, speaking with arity and tr
Four hundred entries covering everyting from food
to weather provide clear definitions and hephil ex
‘ample sentences. With an overview of the use and
History of onometoposic expressions, Nihongo Pera
Pera! offers eystematc ad entertaining approach to
leaming an essential pat of Japanese.
'Add these expressions to your vocabulary and dra
‘matically improve your ality to express yours A
must for both serious and casual lamers, Nihongo
Pera Pera! is your key to fuescy.
‘A graduate ofthe University of Chicago with an M.A.
in Intemational Relations, Susan Millington, fist
‘ame to Tolyo in 1969, She leamed to speak Japa-
hese faently while working at Sony Corporation and
the Inetute of Foreign Bankers
CHARLES E. TUTTLE COMPANY
Ili
oFraoeoe
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ISBN 0-8048-2890-8
Nf mens went aie a ede
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AAO ? Yas
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Up, =
A Guide to don don, peko
peko, za za, and Other
Japanese Onomatopoeia- INTRODUCTION -
HY you have everlived in Japan, you have undoubtedly come across
the phrase pera pera, often used in praise and encoureament of
any attempt foreigners make to communicate in Japanese. You've
probably eaten shabu shabu in a Japanese restaurant. When
you've barely met adeadlineat werk, you may have heard your boss
mutter “gir grt da,”
Sroling dawn a shopping street, you ae likely to be struck by
the noiy later, or pachi pach, of millions of small ste! balls
‘coursing through the wins of Japanese pinball machines in pachinko
parlors fyou get stuck n atraffie jam, you simmer with frustration
‘atthe slow driving pace, or noro noro unten. You are surprised
‘when you discover that Japanese dogs go wan wan when they
bark, rather than bowwou,
“These expressions all belong toa very important group of words
in Japanese, a group that defies our elforts to classify ther. Are
they adverbs or adjectives, sound effects or sound symbols? One
scholar wil cal them sound symbolism, another will carefully
vie them into mimesis and oncmatopoeta, with further differen
tiation between those words describing voices or sounds and those
asppo gappo rake 9 mney 72
pork rae in money mane go of bse alat once 72
Sapper locktogetber 108
arn gara rat rugh personaly: husky (ie): coarse, bolserous
“So empty: ror of thunder 130
gat gant rock ar scratching: hin; obsessed SA
‘eeargeea “ough, iserate: nly, se; ied out 87
Sushitesronghy sh 107
eeshirl very sol bulk, masive 107
Shia gte hy ira sul dene; conpin 7,
mtapihi_ fata to pcs rickety atl not et ora 190
Satchie tly sly carefly do Somettng; eared wih
money 72, 109,
tn gouge, bey 50
‘etn borg 110
Gatto" seen nol wth stenath 109
Seve gaya, canons 131
feos rch, vomt BA
Seanad Scand tre weary 125
ero gero. wort continuous 84
Secsorl lock emecited, hogar 117
ike giko. suing or grating sound 131
‘Bhak “thngs don't go wel, ry | 132
‘Suttosudleiy ht one's och be started 117
{ira gira intersedoringsunlht dozing Hight ke Kira kira bt
Sronge) 38
sie git” stn te or whi the bot rock bottom prc: gating,
‘nding 74
ew glow very thin coll ercnalty or atmosphere) 92
Baa glen onoed seated 132
Gocha gocha complain disordered 121
Seen goch rock hard are than Koc hoch) 5
{ohon gohon cough lly 117
142
Listing of Entries
sok gol gupng sound n throat. ha hg 82
Sr Gene tT
Se gor hark rsh rich eg ona ad ob 9 oh
gore goro ps ae about ump: rol ramble 21,42
Soren! eay bj roling hing auteur 111
onrort red dean entry complete 74
‘dota gota grunble, gripe, erg: disorder, hodgepodge 121
‘Gote gote gosh tick and heap say ore ané ver ain 92
‘Goto goto. boi vigorous, haw rate 47
fotsu gotsu rough or durable body ype: sound of two had things
engin nto one anwher 92
si gi snoring wound. gue; stomach nebles 50, 127
Guts gubir gurde. 82
uch gucha Compsin, messy: chew, suck; mushy and wet 54,121
Shen ude “9 Gn nt renee 8
Sagi” pur of pul wth all one's strength; dink vigorous
‘aap 81, 110 |
gute 2ppWy al one’s stengh atone: gulp down in one g> 81,110
Gun "put drengs into ange elo, srang progress 73 110
‘Gun gun "gor, ting progres 75,
‘Gunga gunga solar weak 98
‘Gumvert imp, sof hod, bent 125,
Sore gra i cds our ely ow 47,117
fusha gush squashed ané unm spn crunple; mesy n SA
Busho gusho soaking wet, sopping wet 30
Gueshor! drenched 31
ussurlsoundsleep thou snoring) 128,
{suka sound aseep. sore 128
{Btu gut sero 47
Suttart wor cde ed wit, 124
Suto. ap concerted action: feel songs pul forefuly 82
Gum gin’ mae sow proges. dias sie, complain 68, 121
filo path orsquccee win force 110
hake leary, pinky, dtr comecty 136
Ihara hara arious, ghtened:ftrscundesshy 126
hhera heralnush (when embarased) 180
Ihero hero colapse weak asebal pitch or tenis serve) 126
Iheto heto dog ted, completely exhaused 126
Ait ht seream a paie 118
143LUSTING oF ENTRIES
bin hin neigh 23
Win'vart ‘Sool 37
hin his piquant “58
ita ita "hin covering of unter, lapping uate (onthe ste ofa boat
“cpproach gradualy 49
fay hia Yel cold continuous: shudder fel nervous or righ
ned 36
Ivar shudder due to cal, fo sublen chil; momentaly pai
ken 36
Iiymtto siden foc color very frightened 36
16, ho ho "o's hooting 26
hho hokeliyo niggas song 26
hot hot rosy easy, wshout any teuble, 137
hhoka homie steaming, hot foe: fee warm and pleasant 59
Rola hokas soft and tony eked, sarc foo pleased, bea
ing 59
Ihorotto rice biter ase; aight stint of the senses fel plesuze
“or ssmpaty, somthing ight ad smal ling 9 ea
08
otto sight vee) 137
Toya hoy food hot from the oven; esh sate for both people ad
thing) 60, 100
haya hg his asthmatic wheeze 42
Icha Icha showing allecon in pusle 98
iif intowerted, whibeed 87
alten irtated, on edge 120
{ko tso_ ‘ight heared and cher: looking foward to something,
“cage 87
{858 sz in ol pour, ose oun 48,
Jab faba shy song splash about 48
J jan "sel ie hot cals sh money on; rece lots of money:
pipe cca og ae tar ra 74
"re cverdone finery cater jorge 93
Ji sound of srthing taming: Sea's chirp 22.47,
‘Blur carey lk hes over: tank carefully 114, 133
ime me melancholy, depresses dark, gloomy: damp 32, 90
Jin in "pcs and neds fel Me you are gong Loc loging
“itraton, suring cold” 37, 18
Jkt see rng ree sunight: te by te, gradually 48
144
Listing of Entries
JHtabata panic wrthe, thrash about 182
{Wto to dams, fe sey wth compress 32
$llort most uth suest 31
Waa hiss scale 48
hah cow cow 22
acht ach” subborn; hard tickng cekelack of wooden cap
per 8
talker ust ge; bh hot eatin: continous het or
ig 38 20
ako. cokes ong 25
tan han ery on lang igh car ig: ang sn het 38,
‘on i2t
Nara ara pet ohh hh ihackr
eva 481, 190 a
larappo” emp) 76
ESE tp ter, yar cheer 40, 47,89
Karat cp, wosthar ceo op "0,58
Kartal erp. cute ot wp 54, 120
gy at ny ah rd eye or de
att syne aoge: thump, bane, sulden heat or ight 120
lebe uaa" hong, icy 92
lero kero fogs roskng 2
Ie bows boa 132
‘ht Ket" Go someting jt so sah edule 63
Wichin sna iy rgmned 92
li kira". iter sane 43
Nita bs you stn ob sti shar cena pin 6,
teint ht sche; exact wel iting: ht or 63
tect hoch ies subtony nwo hd 5589
lhl siden anger curl 121
lekki cose doodedoo 24
Noa Roi Kort ng of rp hed fl ao
‘sorcenet
okt lp down; drop head adeno. when fing sep) 82
on on foxs ls fling for 3 ng ime: ight ck or
‘coughing 25
Lcagar Tay owen en 55
hortort "nbbery tl hone) fm muscle 55, 107LUSTING OF ENTRIES
koro koro pum ng oa belt rling iain; cick’ chirp 26,
gg
Kessort do vomething in soeret 64.
Kote kote smother, ocd, pin akeup) on thek $5
koto Keto. Simmer. bol ight rate 47
Ket Kou" wor toe alors pec: sound of ad shoes cana
on the pavement; knocking oF rappin So
otter! hy, hom ood smothered ir alt (makeup) on tick 55
Teacha kucha "cheving sound rumple "50
Neat standout dear stint 132
kd sted gage 192
Jeska" deck ene gulp 82
Testicle rk le. ona fishing ne) 132
ean kanya, ber easily. resolute 89
lawra kara to, fel dey 47
Tete Masa. Teel depressed 124
Tisha kusha depressd: cmd, wrinkled; mumble 124
Testa lta" dood tod, exhaust alt peces 124
Jaye kayo ‘brood, mope 125
monkey's sick 25 ee
Heyan "yop, el of» dog in pin. sip ya of» small dog
Kyoto itary, look arcurd nenousy 89
Ie yard up for money: taht hod scaly (hoes) 77
‘gutta gulp tht pinch 81
Listing of Entries
moka mol bilw up; do something in sence 42,70,
mort mort ful of es or aston, werk had et hard 93, 70
‘oso moso "munch something dy; mumble, wade, Rlgel 53
‘mote mota sow, ieticient tardy "70
‘moya mova, fon az) mis, Burd: uncear, uncertain
‘oon 34
moyation misty foggy dazed 94
‘ka moka fs! nasoous very anary 84
‘man wun hurd; ay 39,97
‘mara mura emotion ses up 123
‘musha kusha angy, vexed, lose composure 123
‘Sutshe musa thn on aofe foed dn por pores greedy,
‘dewur 53
smusutto salen, not say thing 123
Imutchir plum, lesiy. tulbodid 97
‘mutio Tock anary, sll: ting 39, 123
‘mutisurt sent, tghelpped: glum 91
‘uz uz chy; be thi to: fel arsous ox Impatient 119, 123
‘nar nach overlong, brinfl &3
‘neba neba sick fot necesarly unpleasant) 58
‘nechi echt bea pot tenacious (ns Bad ay slimy 57, 91
‘neto neto unpleasant scky andwet 57
fk ik Sie warmly, gr laugh 138,
fnobl nobl stretch out ek fel eleved” 71
‘nonbir si ack and relax, be ea: happy aoucky 70
hopper at and plan lace or bod) 96
forar kurariague teat around the buh laze around 67, 70,
‘nore nore. extromely sow movement 135
oss mossht wakes walk surely 108
‘nuke nuke brazen” 91
‘av meow 21
‘edo odo uptight, tense, nenous; ching self-confidence 87
‘ttort londy, composed; bghsated, gereroas 107
a _go down the drain, waste ff ootsh 76
ackiiatbink in supise 135
Dak paku vigorous eating, gobble: fap open 51
appa waste (money) suddenly ord eergetcaby 76
‘para para dry and lose; ight sping (Frain fp through 49
147LUSTING OF ENTRIES
at part_dete sl clr cage new: chew oro 51, 67
Part" rsp shard new "58
fara passin sae ter 38
Poko toe ns ta tad mona to mean i sue oi
scioncciter 113
poko peko evenly bingy: Fowow 51,68
Benen ‘phase 103
era pea’ ers sek rcoudy, tm page, cheap and hin e.
ro pero ke repeatedly 52
pero peo hk pe ng ot
Peron at pin oad spre} ik qe sick ou one's
‘one OE
pertto, slow in oe meu a atin aver sbr ine 52
Biyorre uk cy sound of ahte 26
Bi pierce sats anc ahogptched sound chip. 77
Dik pasar sie tigi, bond nc 43
Bato tesa) 4
Bin pin. hea fren, oid pl ad 119
Bin it spey food tore spy tan throw a whi; in,
ns ching pr” 88,119
puto. shames fester,” 108
ie po chop chon 20
othe poche chbiy act oypohy 9%
aka hit onc; wie ope, gape owt pop up 137
“Sen sone pene” 41
ore parody andcrumbby fea alone afer another 60
Poron porn plackor am. nged nsturert fe 8 Sua ora
Tarp sks pono keys 103,
ota pote continu dpi Bighte sound than boa ota, plop
op 38
polcar nicely pump, hubby ad ce splash 96
otsun alone, lel sound oa sine roping something 137
arpa blow s hom higher pled und than bu bu) 102
atl puke pul smoke meny egoretes, blow a harmon st
p18
148
Listing of Entries
un pun extreme ennoyanes rong smell 128,
ur purt onal frm fosn 56,122
Dotto, pusum soi of ters cj beng cto bon ik,
pul pod shall whistle 42
fn rn chip of the suzurusi (us cri) ring sun 22
#86. singing orrecingn loud, dear vice 103
ssaba saba_careroe, detache es, nea: foe! wleved 90
‘Sk sak cut (crisp vegetable; crunch file eating or waking on
sou 7.
sappari_rcheshing: not ata: open fresh and enple 55, 89
Saga essing cree, noth action, shi es and dy $1
“a
Shin'shin" sou fl thek and fast 37
Shinnart sft exble 48
Sho lle Tee depressed, downed ted 125,
shipportsfectonate iver el thoroughly soaked (inthe rain) 32
Shite shito. dzse;feal damp 32
Strosnider, rlad, ral
hobo shabo depressed: loony; Meany eyed dle 32, 125
Shonbort miserable, dsopponted, lonely 125
Soldkur ook alte the whole of something 134
Soro sore. ow, gratia progress about tne fo. 74
oroktea rsh hunied and neomplete 133
Sette. gery, alone do vetting qth in secret 133
Soyo soyo. ght breeee 42
149LISTING OF ENTREES
49 dealt: sound of nasal breathing 35,
igo sage downesst, dejected leave a place duappolsed 126
Stkatto fresh ean clear 56
Sut simple, poly tm relesing 94
unnari_ slender, progress ushout atch 73,94
Sure sura_procoed smooth, witht atch: ow 73
Surat leg and slender, meh urlen moverners ily
‘Sura sur sp move smoothly "50
Suen, suten tule and fall 111
Sttenten fat broke 76
fzuya sym sleep peaceful os viewed by another pessoa) 128
{alt abe thrown of blance; cannot hld one's oun 66, 12
tappurt_fal cos, pleny 50
fare tara running, cnppng; complain endless 48, 122
fel tek “shir bg 95,
foge toge han, pry, ory sores 91
{ok tok sound or act of pourna onic speak proudly 83
{on ton be on pa eg. nance of enue and expencture
Proceed soc: tapping, Kocng 76.
toppurt right deers lest steeped in 33,43
{etetoro ia wake doe
foredto™ malin your meus: gnu, spy: dl ees: sloxp ahh
Tors shor period | 51, 118, 128. a
teubekobe grpe, ako mich 122
{Suke tauke “thine. speak one's mind wiouthestaton 67
{hun tain singing, pungent leg, smevon x neg pated
indash 56, 90,
‘suru tsura” ip vigorous: sippy: smooth: bald 50
st a uishywoshy,ndecsve 87
tka uk" eam airy one's me; ck rection ora plan; careless:
tied 68
Uuki ui coger, lighthearted, chew &7
‘ikkart inadvertently creo, thosghosly 68
tun un groan (th eflort or pa: pod Gin agreement) 114
tinzart Te up, sick ond eed 63
{iro wro wander about, ng and 130
tio uto doze, nad of 127
Mears utsure’ date, drowsy 127
‘ttord instance a dreamy state, envanced 130
150
Listing of Entries
ayo uyo arming (2s fs, isecs) 180
walea walt excitedly aroouly 138
San wan ‘woo! wool, bowwow 20
oe mee me ct
gst cing,
Boies, satesenreaa a
ier athe sctatere thle 9
eer 2
Sua lithe eases
8 24 coud ofa downpour, sound fale of water flowing 8
teal 31
ake sala moncy rl n; ough weave; crunch, 74
{at it" of ae Sooper Yuh. pes
oie 31
aun sn chil tng sounds damor ofa coud 35
Toklon deeply iuobed rary abot 9
Bk rok cher do 1 he Cl shiver wth examen or lease
iver in fear, things happen one afer another 35
sotto col shiver dum oe’ spine 38
ube zuba sagt aking ect 65
{ake nike. Hunt speak ones mind without hestasion Gna more
icc ty than isthe toukel 67
zn wu heartache continu pant hob 99, 118
Zulia one sharp piel» sharp pang of guilt "118
Takin zinc robbing pa fear han 20k
‘uh 18
sun zum roid progress or regression 73
Sungurl_ Short onto
Ser so tcl ny ob bs
‘soages ose rp 90.1
uta fata henson, Catin eS, sheded 99
151