第175課: 擬声語 III: 擬態語・擬情語
擬態語 represent states and 擬情語 represent emotion(al states). These are intertwined with each other, and they are often tied to some sort of sound. Just like before, different spellings and nuances based on context are to be expected. However, the best thing that you can do to learn Japanese onomatopoeic expressions is see how they’re being used.
擬態語・擬情語
To begin, we will look at a chart of common 擬態語 and 擬情語. Some notes that we have already seen before will be repeated in context of this lesson as reinforcement of what you already know with new material.
| Tired, exhausted | くたくた（と・に） | Irritated | いらいら（と） |
| Refreshed | すっきり（と） | Fixedly | じっと |
| Round and round | ぐるぐる（と） | Firmly; fixedly | ぐっと |
| Relieved | ほっと | Nervous; excitedly | わくわく（と） |
| Resolutely; tightly; firmly; steadily | しっかり（と） | Furiously | ぷんぷん（と） |
| Restlessly | そわそわ（と） | Astonished | びっくり（と） |
| In a mess | めちゃくちゃ | Drenched | びっしょり（と） |
| Glistening | ぴかぴか（と） | Radiantly | きらきら（と） |
| Watery | べちゃべちゃ | Sneeze | はくしょん |
| Rough | ざらざら（と・に） | Stickily | ねばねば（と） |
| Ecstatically; vacantly | うっとり（と） | Dejected | がっかり |
- くたくた: Exhausted, worn down, boiled to a mush, or even wordy.
- いらいら（と）: It may be irritating as in emotions are as in the body.
- すっくり（と）: Being refreshed, clean-cut, straightforward, complete, and even neat.
- しっかり（と）: It can also mean reliable and enough.
- ぷんぷん（と）: It can also refer to a strong smell in a negative fashion.
Part of Speech Note: Some verbs are based off of onomatopoeia. Ex. きらめく (to sparkle/radiate).
Voicing Note: Voiced onomatopoeia often have a more serious or dramatic tone to them versus their very similar non-voiced counterparts. They are often antonymous. For example, さらさら can be smooth but ざらざら is rough.
As you can see, there are some very similar patterns going on. Many onomatopoeic expressions in Japanese are the result of a doubled element(s). We have expressions like こそこそ（と） (stealthily) where double-morae element is doubled. These in particular are subject to having many variants. For instance, you can say こそっと or こっそり instead. Note that the insertion of the っ is prevented when the resulting double consonant is not one that is allowed in Japanese.
Please note that you always have your irregularities. Sometimes different forms have different nuances, although always related. This does not include non-onomatopoeic words with repeating elements. This is really just something you have to mess around with and test the limits of.
Examples
1. めらめらともえている炎
A flaring flame
2. ちんちん。
Beg! （To a dog)
3. だらだらとした討論
A lengthy debate
4. じとじとした部屋
Humid/damp room
5. がっかりした顔
A dejected face
6. 音楽にうっとりする。
To be enchanted by music.
7. はらはらして待つ。
To wait in great suspense.
8. ばらばらに壊す。
To break into pieces.
9. でれでれにする。
To be love-stricken.
10. にょろにょろと這い回る。
To slither about.
11. 兄は今日プンプンしてる。(Casual)
My old brother is in a bad mood today.
12. ぎらぎら光る太陽
A glaring sun
13a. 雨の中をはるばる来る。
13b. 雨の中をわざわざ来る。
Come all the way through the rain.
Sentence Note: 13a infers that you never stopped on the way, and 13b infers that you took the trouble to come that far.
14. からからにする。
To dry up.
15. ずきずきと痛む。
To throb in pain.
16. ぎっしり詰まった
Packed; tight; heavy
17. 雨でぐっしょりとぬれた。
I got soaked by the rain.
18. ぺこりと頭を下げる。
To bob one’s head.
19. ぼんやりとした人影
A vague figure.
20. がっしりとした男
A well-built man
21. (あなた)の日本語の能力はめきめきと上達していますね。
Your Japanese skills are remarkably improving.
22. チューインガムが靴の底にぺたっとくっついた。
Chewing gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe.
23. ぐずぐずする。
To be slow at doing.
24. まるまるとした酔っ払い
A plump drunkard
25. 煙がもくもくと上がる。
For smoke to rise.
26. ぱっくりと裂ける。
To split open.
27. とげがちくちく（と）する
Thorns are prickly
28. 背中がぞくぞく（と）する。
For one’s back to chill.
29. ふつふつ（と）沸く
To boil out.
30. 彼はまあまあ優しい。
He is relatively nice.
Part of Speech Note: まあまあ can also be seen as an interjection meaning “now, now” or “my, my”. Many adverbial phrases have varying parts of speech depending on usage.
31. 瓶はすっかり空だ。
The bottle is quite/completely empty.
32. もうすっかりよくなりましたか。
Have you become quite well already?
33. そっと肩を抱いた。
I gently hugged his shoulder.
Reading Note: 抱く is either read as だく or いだく. The first shows physical embrace. The latter shows the bearing of thoughts, feelings, etc.
Eating & Drinking
| To gnaw | がりがり（と）かじる | To eat heartily | もりもり（と）食べる |
| To gulp whole | がぶりと飲み込む | To bite into | ぱ（っ）くり（と）食べる |
| To bite fiercely | がぶり（と）かむ |
Laughter
| To smile | にっこり（と）笑う | To smile | にこにこ（と）笑う |
| To sneer | せせら笑う | To have a broad grin | にた｛っと・りと・にた（と）｝笑う |
| To smirk | にや｛っと・りと・にや（と）｝笑う |