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13/06/2026
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Japanese Onomatopoeia ②: Sound Words Like 「ザーザー」, 「ドンドン」, and 「リンリン」
Kotoba Drill Editor
Today's theme
In the previous article (Japanese Onomatopoeia ①), we learnt words such as 「ワクワク」, 「ドキドキ」, and 「キラキラ」, which express feelings or states through sound-like words.
This time, we look at another type.
These are words that turn sounds you can actually hear into language.
- the sound of heavy rain: 「ザーザー」
- the sound of someone hitting a door: 「ドンドン」
- the sound of a phone or bell ringing: 「リンリン」
In Japanese, these are called 「擬音語」（ぎおんご） [ɡʲio̞ŋɡo̞], meaning words that turn real sounds into language. They appear almost every day in anime, manga, weather forecasts, and daily conversation.
Today, we choose eight onomatopoeic words for sounds you often hear in daily life, and learn what kind of sound each one expresses and how to use it, with examples.
Difference between 「擬音語」 and 「擬態語」 (review)
As a review from the previous article, let us check the two main types of 「オノマトペ」 [o̞no̞mato̞pe̞], the Japanese term for sound-symbolic words.
| Type | What it shows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 「擬音語」（ぎおんご） [ɡʲio̞ŋɡo̞]: words that turn sounds into language | sounds that can actually be heard | 「ザーザー」（rain sound）, 「ドンドン」（hitting sound） |
| 「擬態語」（ぎたいご） [ɡʲitaiɡo̞]: words that turn states into language | states and feelings, with no actual sound | 「ワクワク」（happy anticipation）, 「キラキラ」（a sparkling look or feeling） |
Use 「擬音語」 when you can actually hear a sound. Use 「擬態語」 even when there is no sound.
Today's theme is 「擬音語」.
Eight words to learn today
First, let us look at the list.
| Word | What kind of sound? | In one line |
|---|---|---|
| 「ザーザー」 | sound of heavy rain | a lot of rain is falling |
| 「ドンドン」 | sound of hitting something heavy | hitting a door or floor with a fist |
| 「リンリン」 | sound of a small bell | a phone bell or bicycle bell |
| 「コンコン」 | light knocking sound or cough sound | tapping a door with fingers, or coughing |
| 「ガタガタ」 | sound of things shaking and hitting each other | trains, windows, desks, and similar things |
| 「パチパチ」 | sound of small things popping or snapping | clapping, or the sound of fire burning |
| 「ブーブー」 | low, dull sound or a complaining voice | a car horn, or a voice of complaint |
| 「ゴロゴロ」 | sound of something heavy rolling or rumbling | thunder, or a cat's purring sound |
Now let us look at each one in more detail.
① 「ザーザー」
Meaning: The sound of heavy rain falling. It is also used for the sound of a lot of water flowing.
Do not use it for light rain. Use it when the rain is strong and heavy.
Examples:
- 「外はザーザー降りで、傘を忘れた。」 (It is pouring outside, and I forgot my umbrella.)
- 「雨がザーザー降っているので、外に出たくない。」 (It is raining heavily, so I do not want to go outside.)
- 「シャワーをザーザー出しっぱなしにしないで。」 (Do not leave the shower running strongly.)
Usage tip: There is also the expression 「ザーザー降り」. It sounds more vivid than simply saying "heavy rain".
② 「ドンドン」
Meaning: The sound of hitting something heavy and hard. It is a repeated sound.
Use it when someone knocks hard on a door. It can also be used when something progresses or increases quickly.
Examples:
- 「誰かがドアをドンドンたたいている。」 (Someone is banging on the door.)
- 「子どもたちが床をドンドン走っている。」 (The children are running noisily on the floor.)
- 「仕事がドンドン増えてきた。」 (The work has been increasing quickly.)
Difference from 「コンコン」: 「ドンドン」 is a strong, heavy sound, while 「コンコン」 is a light and quiet sound. Choose according to the scene.
③ 「リンリン」
Meaning: The sound of a small, clear bell. It is used for phones, bicycle bells, and even insect sounds.
It gives the image of a high, light sound.
Examples:
- 「電話がリンリン鳴っている。」 (The phone is ringing.)
- 「秋になると、虫がリンリン鳴く。」 (In autumn, insects chirp with a clear ringing sound.)
- 「自転車のベルをリンリン鳴らして通った。」 (I passed by ringing my bicycle bell.)
Usage tip: Because smartphone ringtones are now common, you may see this more often in writing, such as novels and poems, than in actual conversation.
④ 「コンコン」
Meaning: The sound of lightly knocking on a door. It can also mean the sound of coughing.
One word has two meanings. Decide the meaning from the flow of the sentence.
Examples:
- 「ドアをコンコンとたたいて、入ってもいいか聞いた。」 (I knocked lightly on the door and asked if I could come in.)
- 「彼は朝からずっとコンコン咳をしている。」 (He has been coughing lightly since morning.)
- 「コンコンとノックをしたが、返事がなかった。」 (I knocked lightly, but there was no reply.)
Caution: A 「コンコン」 cough suggests a light cough. For a heavy cough, use 「ゴホゴホ」.
⑤ 「ガタガタ」
Meaning: The sound of hard things shaking and hitting each other. It can also describe the body trembling.
It is often used for scenes connected with shaking, such as trains, windows, desks, and the body shaking from cold.
Examples:
- 「電車の中で、窓がガタガタ音を立てていた。」 (Inside the train, the window was rattling.)
- 「古い机の足がガタガタで、揺れる。」 (The old desk's legs are wobbly, so it shakes.)
- 「寒くて体がガタガタ震えた。」 (I was so cold that my body trembled.)
Usage tip: There is also the expression 「ガタガタ言う」, which means "to complain" in casual speech.
⑥ 「パチパチ」
Meaning: The sound of small, light things popping, snapping, or hitting each other.
It is used in several scenes, such as applause, fire, and static electricity.
Examples:
- 「発表が終わると、みんながパチパチ拍手した。」 (When the presentation ended, everyone clapped.)
- 「キャンプファイヤーの火がパチパチ燃えていた。」 (The campfire was crackling.)
- 「火が燃えて、パチパチと音がした。」 (The fire was burning and made a crackling sound.)
Usage tip: 「パチパチ」 for applause sounds a little light and cute. Big applause can also be expressed with 「わー」 or 「バチバチ」 in casual language.
⑦ 「ブーブー」
Meaning: A low, dull sound. It can also describe children complaining.
It has two meanings.
Examples:
- 「車がブーブー（クラクションを）鳴らした。」 (The car honked.)
- 「宿題が多くて、子どもたちがブーブー言っていた。」 (The children were complaining because there was a lot of homework.)
- 「ハチがブーブー飛んでいた。」 (A bee was flying with a buzzing sound.)
Caution: 「ブーブー言う」 can sound childish. In adult conversation, 「文句を言う」 or 「不満を言う」 sounds more polite.
⑧ 「ゴロゴロ」
Meaning: The sound of something heavy rolling slowly, or a large sound heard from far away.
It is used in several scenes, such as thunder, a cat's purring sound, and rolling objects.
Examples:
- 「遠くで雷がゴロゴロ鳴っている。」 (Thunder is rumbling in the distance.)
- 「猫が気持ちよさそうにゴロゴロしている。」 (The cat is purring comfortably.)
- 「重い荷物をゴロゴロ引いて歩いた。」 (I walked while pulling heavy luggage that rolled along.)
Usage tip: The expression 「家でゴロゴロしている」 is often used to mean lying around lazily at home. This is a 「擬態語」 use.
How sound words in 「オノマトペ」 are built (basic patterns)
| Pattern | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| repeat the same sound twice | 「ザーザー」, 「ドンドン」, 「ゴロゴロ」 | the most common form; it gives the feeling that the sound continues |
| add 「〜と」 to make an adverb | 「コンコンとたたく」, 「パチパチと音がした」 | natural when explaining an action |
| add 「〜する」 to make a verb | 「ガタガタする」, 「ゴロゴロする」 | expresses a state or condition |
| use the form 「〜音（おと）がする」 | 「ドンドン音がする」, 「ガタガタ音がした」 | politely shows that a sound can be heard |
Scene ①: weather and natural sounds
In Japan, seasons and weather change a lot, and 「オノマトペ」 is often used to describe those changes.
- 「梅雨の時期、雨がザーザー降ります。」 (During the rainy season, it rains heavily.)
- 「夏の夜、遠くで雷がゴロゴロ鳴っていた。」 (On a summer night, thunder was rumbling in the distance.)
- 「台風で、窓がガタガタ揺れた。」 (Because of the typhoon, the windows rattled.)
Natural sounds often appear in the news, weather forecasts, and conversation, so they are useful to remember.
Scene ②: sounds of people and things
These are sounds you often hear in daily life, such as human actions, furniture, and vehicles.
- 「隣の部屋から、ドンドンたたく音がした。」 (I heard a banging sound from the next room.)
- 「電車の中で赤ちゃんがゴロゴロのおもちゃで遊んでいた。」 (A baby was playing with a rolling toy on the train.)
- 「会議室のドアをコンコンたたいて入った。」 (I lightly knocked on the meeting room door and entered.)
Caution: similar sounds and easily confused pairs
| Sound | Scene | Easily confused sound | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 「ザーザー」 | heavy rain | 「シトシト」 | 「シトシト」 is light, quiet rain |
| 「ドンドン」 | hitting strongly | 「コンコン」 | 「コンコン」 is light knocking |
| 「コンコン」 | light cough | 「ゴホゴホ」 | 「ゴホゴホ」 is a heavy cough |
| 「パチパチ」 | applause or fire | 「バチバチ」 | 「バチバチ」 feels more intense and is casual |
| 「ゴロゴロ」 | thunder, cats, rolling | 「ゴトゴト」 | 「ゴトゴト」 is used for trains or a pot making a noise |
Where 「擬音語」 fits and does not fit
| Fits | Does not fit |
|---|---|
| when vividly explaining a situation in conversation with friends | public documents and reports, especially if overused |
| when you want to show the sound of a scene on social media or in a diary | business emails, where it can sound a little childish |
| explanations and storytelling for children | academic papers and legal documents |
| descriptions in anime, manga, and novels | formal self-introductions with someone you are meeting for the first time |
Rephrasing guide (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））＋ IPA)
| Word | What kind of sound? | Example | Reading (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））) | Pronunciation (IPA) | Usage point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 「ザーザー」 | heavy rain | 「雨がザーザー降っている。」 (It is raining heavily.) | （ざーざー） | [zaːzaː] | only for strong, heavy rain |
| 「ドンドン」 | heavy hitting sound | 「ドアをドンドンたたいた。」 (I banged on the door.) | （どんどん） | [do̞ɴdo̞ɴ] | strong and heavy repeated sound |
| 「リンリン」 | bell sound | 「電話がリンリン鳴っている。」 (The phone is ringing.) | （りんりん） | [ɾiɴɾiɴ] | light, clear metallic sound |
| 「コンコン」 | light knocking or cough | 「ドアをコンコンたたいた。」 (I knocked lightly on the door.) | （こんこん） | [ko̞ŋko̞ŋ] | light and quiet sound |
| 「ガタガタ」 | shaking and hitting sound | 「電車の窓がガタガタした。」 (The train window rattled.) | （がたがた） | [ɡataɡata] | feeling of hard things shaking |
| 「パチパチ」 | popping or clapping | 「みんながパチパチ拍手した。」 (Everyone clapped.) | （ぱちぱち） | [patɕipatɕi] | small, light popping sound |
| 「ブーブー」 | low sound or complaint | 「車がブーブー鳴らした。」 (The car honked.) | （ぶーぶー） | [buːbuː] | low, dull repeated sound |
| 「ゴロゴロ」 | heavy rolling or thunder | 「雷がゴロゴロ鳴っている。」 (Thunder is rumbling.) | （ごろごろ） | [ɡo̞ɾo̞ɡo̞ɾo̞] | slow, heavy movement or sound |
Note
IPA is approximate. Vowel length and the position of nasal sounds such as 「ン」 vary by speaker and region. Check together with kana.
Practical switching examples (daily life and work｜kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））＋ IPA)
| Scene | Intention | Better wording | Reading (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））) | Pronunciation (IPA) | Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily life (weather) | the rain is heavy | 「外、ザーザー降りだよ。」 (It is pouring outside.) | （そと ざーざー ふり だよ） | [so̞to̞ zaːzaː ɸɯɾi da jo̞] | vividly shows the strength of the weather |
| Daily life (home) | the window is shaking | 「台風で窓がガタガタしてる。」 (The window is rattling because of the typhoon.) | （たいふう で まど が がたがた してる） | [taiɸɯː de̞ mado̞ ɡa ɡataɡata ɕite̞ɾɯ] | quickly describes the situation |
| Daily life (pet) | the cat is relaxed | 「うちの猫、ゴロゴロ言ってる。」 (My cat is purring.) | （うち の ねこ ごろごろ いってる） | [ɯ̥tɕi no̞ ne̞ko̞ ɡo̞ɾo̞ɡo̞ɾo̞ itte̞ɾɯ] | shows that the cat is in a good mood |
| School (class) | the presentation is over | 「発表の後、パチパチ拍手してもらった。」 (After the presentation, people clapped for me.) | （はっぴょう の あと ぱちぱち はくしゅ してもらった） | [happʲo̞ː no̞ ato̞ patɕipatɕi hakɯɕɯ ɕite̞mo̞ɾatta] | the clapping sound makes the scene clear |
| School (health) | a friend is coughing | 「隣の子がコンコン咳してた。」 (The child next to me was coughing lightly.) | （となり の こ が こんこん せき してた） | [to̞naɾi no̞ ko̞ ɡa ko̞ŋko̞ŋ se̞ki ɕite̞ta] | shows a light cough |
| Work (visit) | before entering a meeting room | 「ドアをコンコンとたたいて入りました。」 (I knocked lightly on the door and entered.) | （どあ を こんこん と たたいて はいりました） | [do̞a o̞ ko̞ŋko̞ŋ to̞ tataide̞ haiɾimasɯ] | a polite description of knocking |
Small tips: using the words more naturally
1) Adding 「〜と」 makes it sound like one action
「コンコンたたく」 and 「コンコンとたたく」 mean the same thing. However, 「コンコンとたたく」 sounds a little more written and polite.
- Conversation: 「ドアをコンコンたたいた。」 (I knocked lightly on the door.)
- Writing: 「ドアをコンコンとたたいた。」 (I knocked lightly on the door.)
2) Choose by sound size
Sound words in 「オノマトペ」 are chosen according to how loud or strong the sound is.
| Strong | Weak |
|---|---|
| 「ドンドン」（hitting strongly） | 「コンコン」（light knocking） |
| 「ザーザー」（heavy rain） | 「シトシト」（light rain） |
| 「ゴホゴホ」（heavy cough） | 「コンコン」（light cough） |
When you use a sound that matches the scene, the situation becomes clearer and more accurate.
3) The same word can change meaning
「ゴロゴロ」 and 「ブーブー」 change meaning depending on the scene.
- 「ゴロゴロ」: thunder, a cat, rolling, lying around at home
- 「ブーブー」: a car horn, wing sounds, a complaining voice
Judge the meaning from the flow of the sentence.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
| Common sentence | What is the issue? | Fix (example) |
|---|---|---|
| 「小雨がザーザー降っている。」 | 「ザーザー」 is for heavy rain. It does not fit light rain. | 「小雨がシトシト降っている。」 |
| 「ドアをゴロゴロたたいた。」 | 「ゴロゴロ」 is not a hitting sound. It is for rolling or thunder. | 「ドアをドンドンたたいた。」 |
| 「猫がパチパチしている。」 | 「パチパチ」 is for applause or fire. It is not the sound of a cat's throat. | 「猫がゴロゴロしている。」 |
| 「電話をリンリン使った。」 | 「リンリン」 is a ringing sound. It does not fit 「使った」. | 「電話がリンリン鳴った。」 |
Summary
Sound words in 「オノマトペ」 become easier to organise if you group them by sound type.
- rain and water sounds: 「ザーザー」（heavy rain）
- hitting sounds: 「ドンドン」（strongly）, 「コンコン」（lightly）
- bell and phone sounds: 「リンリン」
- shaking sounds: 「ガタガタ」
- popping sounds and applause: 「パチパチ」
- low, dull sounds and complaints: 「ブーブー」
- slow, heavy sounds, thunder, and cats: 「ゴロゴロ」
The four key points are:
- many words repeat the same sound twice
- adding 「〜と」 makes an adverb, and adding 「〜する」 makes a verb
- some words can be used in several scenes, such as 「コンコン」 and 「ゴロゴロ」
- some words must be chosen by sound size and strength, such as 「ドンドン」 vs 「コンコン」
Once you can use sound words in 「オノマトペ」, you can describe the sound of a scene directly in Japanese. Start with the eight words you learnt today, especially the sounds you often hear, such as rain and knocking, and try using them in real sentences.
Next time
Next time, in Japanese Onomatopoeia ③, we will look at 「オノマトペ」 words that express texture and touch. We will see the fun of expressing how something feels when you touch it, such as 「フワフワ」（soft）, 「ツルツル」（smooth）, and 「ゴワゴワ」（stiff）. Look forward to it.
