EJOD's Onomaoptoeia Page

Onomatopoeia (also spelled onomatopœia, from Greek: ονοματοποιΐα) is a word or a grouping of words that imitates the sound it is describing, suggesting its source object, such as "click", "bunk", "clang", "buzz", "bang", or animal noises such as "oink", "moo", or "meow". The word is a synthesis of the Greek words όνομα (onoma, = "name") and ποιέω (poieō, = "I make" or "I create") thus it essentially means "name creation", although it makes more sense combining "name" and "I do", meaning it is named (and spelled) as it sounds (e.g. quack, bang, etc.).

Following are some very common examples of Japanese onomatopoeia. 擬音語　(Gion-go).

ONOMATOPOEIA　Animal Sounds

English Translation available fot EJOD Members

Pig　ブーブー

ぶたがブーブーとなく

Dog　ワンワン

いぬがワンワンとほえる

Rooster　コケコッコー

にわとりがコケコッコーとなく

Duck　ガーガー

あひるがガーガーとなく

Chick　ピヨピヨ

ひよこがピヨピヨとなく

Crow　カーカー

カラスがカーカーとなく

Cat　ニャーニャー

ねこがニャーニャーとなく

Frog ケロケロ

かえるがケロケロとなく

Cow　モーモー

うしがモーモーとなく

Horse　ヒヒーン

うまがヒヒーンとなく

Mouse　チューチュー

ねずみがチューチューとなく