The sound and mimetic words Japanese uses for feelings, textures, weather and the way things move.
English has a few words like "splash" and "giggle"; Japanese has hundreds, and they are not childish. Most describe not a sound but a state — how tired you are, how a surface feels, how the rain is falling — and a single one often does the work of an English adjective plus an adverb. They are used mainly in three ways: as an adverb before a verb (雨がざあざあ降る), as a verb with する (いらいらする), or before だ and です (お腹がぺこぺこだ). They are usually written in hiragana; katakana gives them extra emphasis.
The words
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Adverb (40)
ドキドキpounding (heart); nervous; thrilledAdverbN3
人の前で話すときは、いつもドキドキします。My heart always pounds when I speak in front of people.
With する. Also written in hiragana, どきどき.
わくわくexcited (looking forward to something)AdverbN3
明日から旅行なので、わくわくしています。I am off on holiday tomorrow, so I am really excited.
Only for happy anticipation; nervous excitement is ドキドキ.
はらはらon edge; anxious (watching)AdverbN3
子供が高い木に登るのを、はらはらしながら見ていました。I watched anxiously as the child climbed the tall tree.
The feeling of watching someone else in danger.
そわそわrestless; fidgetyAdverbN3
結果が出るまで、ずっとそわそわしていました。I was restless the whole time until the result came out.
いらいらirritated; on edgeAdverbN3
バスがなかなか来なくて、いらいらしました。The bus took ages to come and I got irritated.
With する. Also written in katakana, イライラ.
にこにこsmiling (happily)AdverbN3
祖母は、いつもにこにこしています。My grandmother is always smiling.
にやにやgrinning; smirkingAdverbN3
弟がスマホを見ながら、一人でにやにやしています。My younger brother is looking at his phone and grinning to himself.
A knowing or slightly suspicious grin; a warm smile is にこにこ.
くすくすgiggling; chuckling quietlyAdverbN3
後ろの席で、誰かがくすくす笑っていました。Someone in the seats behind was giggling.
のんびりleisurely; relaxedAdverbN3
休みの日は、家でのんびり過ごします。On my days off I take it easy at home.
ゆっくりslowly; taking one's timeAdverbN4
すみません、もう少しゆっくり話してください。Excuse me, could you speak a little more slowly?
ゆっくりしてください means "take your time" or "make yourself at home".
のろのろat a crawl; sluggishlyAdverbN3
渋滞で、車がのろのろとしか進みません。Because of the traffic jam, the cars are only crawling along.
Annoyingly slow; ゆっくり has no complaint in it.
ぼんやりabsent-minded; vaguely; dimlyAdverbN3
疲れていて、一日中ぼんやりしていました。I was tired and in a daze all day.
うとうとdozing; nodding offAdverbN3
暖かい電車の中で、ついうとうとしてしまいました。I nodded off on the warm train without meaning to.
ぐっすりsoundly (of sleep)AdverbN3
昨日の夜は、久しぶりにぐっすり眠れました。Last night I slept soundly for the first time in ages.
Only with sleeping: ぐっすり眠る, ぐっすり寝る.
すっきりrefreshed; clear; neatAdverbN3
部屋を片付けたら、気分もすっきりしました。Once I had tidied my room, I felt refreshed as well.
さっぱりrefreshed; light (taste); not at allAdverbN3
暑い日にシャワーを浴びると、さっぱりします。Taking a shower on a hot day leaves you feeling fresh.
With a negative it means "not at all": さっぱり分からない.
ぴったりexactly; a perfect fitAdverbN3
この靴は、私の足にぴったりです。These shoes fit my feet perfectly.
Also before だ and です, as here.
そっくりjust like; the spitting imageAdverbN3
娘さんは、お母さんにそっくりですね。Your daughter looks just like her mother.
The person resembled takes に.
ぺらぺらfluent; fluentlyAdverbN3
彼は英語も中国語もぺらぺらです。He speaks both English and Chinese fluently.
Also "chattering on", not always praise: 秘密をぺらぺら話す.
ぶつぶつmuttering; grumblingAdverbN3
父は、ぶつぶつ文句を言いながら出かけていきました。My father went out grumbling under his breath.
ひそひそin a whisperAdverbN3
二人は教室の隅で、ひそひそ話していました。The two of them were whispering in a corner of the classroom.
ふらふらunsteady; dizzy; wanderingAdverbN3
熱があって、立つとふらふらします。I have a temperature and feel unsteady when I stand up.
くたくたexhausted; worn outAdverbN3
一日中歩き回って、もうくたくたです。I have been walking around all day and I am worn out.
Usually before だ or です.
ぺこぺこstarving; bowing repeatedlyAdverbN3
朝から何も食べていないので、お腹がぺこぺこです。I have not eaten anything since this morning, so I am starving.
Hunger is お腹がぺこぺこ; ぺこぺこする is bowing again and again.
からからparched; bone dryAdverbN3
走った後で、のどがからからです。My throat is parched after the run.
ごろごろlazing about; rumblingAdverbN3
日曜日は、朝から晩まで家でごろごろしていました。On Sunday I lazed about at home from morning till night.
Also thunder rumbling: 雷がごろごろ鳴る.
きらきらsparkling; twinklingAdverbN3
夜空に星がきらきら光っています。The stars are twinkling in the night sky.
ぴかぴかshiny; gleamingAdverbN3
車を洗ったら、ぴかぴかになりました。After I washed the car, it was gleaming.
Something polished or brand new; きらきら is light that flickers.
ざあざあpouring (of rain)AdverbN3
朝から雨がざあざあ降っています。It has been pouring since this morning.
