Welcome to the World of Onomatopoeia: A Useful Collection

[Japanese] Essential Guide

"Onomatopoeia" refers to sound symbolism and mimetic words.

▶Sound symbolism are words that represent sounds.

Example: woof-woof, meow-meow
The rain is pouring heavily

▶Mimetic words are words that represent states or conditions.

Example: silent room
slacking off
working efficiently

Japanese has a vast amount of onomatopoeia, and it is said that
approximately 2,000 to over 4,500 words exist. (Korean is also said to have many.)
Understanding the meaning of onomatopoeia


will deepen your world of Japanese.

This time, I have collected resources that seem useful
for Japanese teachers and learners.

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<<Onomatopoeia Websites>>

"Japanese in Dialogue" Onomatopoeia that Conveys Feelings

Japan Foundation

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"Let's Enjoy Japanese! What are Sound Symbolism? What are Mimetic Words?"

National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics

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Japanese NET "Onomatopoeia Summary"

☟ Onomatopoeia quizzes included here

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"Tsutaeru Hatsuon" (Communicating Pronunciation)

Easy-to-understand video explanation of onomatopoeia accents

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Yuru Gengo Radio "Onomatopoeia"

There are many videos about onomatopoeia

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"Japanese Onomatopoeia Dictionary"

Shino-sensei's YouTube: There are 31 videos from the A-row to the Ka-row

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Onomatopoeia and Mimetic words | Onomatopoeia and Mimetic words

Japanese Language & Culture
Explaining onomatopoeia in English.

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Onomatopoeia Researcher and Picture Book Specialist Yoshitaka Fujino Official Website

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Onomatopoeia Dictionary
Includes photos, meanings, and usage examples

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<<Onomatopoeia Books, Cards, etc.>> 28 volumes

"Learn Everyday Japanese Onomatopoeia Through Manga!"

"Onomatope-Rape-Ra: Japanese Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words in Manga"

"180 Basic Japanese Conversational Onomatopoeia Expressions Frequently Used by Japanese People (Speak Japanese!)"

"Understanding Through Comparison: Onomatopoeia"

"Yokai Onomatopoeia"

"Clear Up Your Confusion! Onomatopoeia (Exciting to Know! Japanese Onomatopoeia/Honorifics/Loanwords)"

"Kenji Miyazawa's Onomatopoeia Collection "(Chikuma Bunko)

"The World of Onomatopoeia: Sound-Symbolic and Mimetic Words"(Kadokawa Sophia Bunko)

"The Mystery of Onomatopoeia: From Pikachu to Fluffy"
(Iwanami Science Library)

"Japanese is Fun Because of Onomatopoeia: The Rich World of Sound-Symbolic and Mimetic Words"
(Heibonsha Shinsho)

"Onomatopoeia Expressions in English"

Books with 'Dictionary' or 'Illustrated Guide' in the title


"4500 Sound-Symbolic and Mimetic Words: Japanese Onomatopoeia Dictionary"

"Onomatopoeia Dictionary You Can Search by 'What You Want to Say'"

"Illustrated Onomatopoeia Dictionary"

"Get the Idea with Onomatopoeia! Illustrated Guide to Inspired Color Schemes"

"Children's Onomatopoeia Dictionary to Rapidly Improve Your Japanese Fluency"

"Fun Words!! Great Illustrated Guide to Onomatopoeia"

"Difficult-to-Translate Japanese-English Onomatopoeia Dictionary"


Picture Books

"Picture Book to Nurture Language: A-I-U-E Onomatopoeia"

"Picture Book of Japanese Onomatopoeia"

"Anpanman's Exciting Onomatopoeia! (Baby Anpanman)"

"A-I-U-E Onomatopoeia Pa-Pi-Pu-Pe-Poit!: A Picture Book to Nurture Language"

"Onomatopoeia for Everyone (Words to See, Words to Touch, Sign Language Picture Book 3)"

Teaching materials for children

“Nurturing Language! Bath-time AIUEO Onomatopoeia”

“Trace with Your Finger! Hiragana AIUEO Onomatopoeia”

Onomatopoeia cards, etc.

“Onomatopoeia Picture Cards to Enrich Spoken and Written Language”

“[Feeling Onomatopoeia] A card game to understand your own feelings and others' through dialogue”

“Nurturing Language: Onomatopoeia Cards 'AIUEO Edition'”

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《Others》

Someone was making an onomatopoeia app!

Junji Watanabe Research Site: Well-being Connected by Tactile Sensation

"Feeling Onomatopoeia"
https://socialwellbeing.ilab.ntt.co.jp/tool_measure_feelingonomatopoeia.html

It is not a tool for learning onomatopoeia directly, but I thought it was unique.

The 2024 'Onomatopoeia Prescription Exhibition'

I believe it was free at the time, but the exhibition method was also well-thought-out and very interesting, so I hope they do it again on a larger scale, even if it's a paid event...
that is my wish.

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Onomatopoeia Quiz

I would like to introduce one
onomatopoeia quiz I created using Google Forms for Japanese learners.

Once you answer and press "Submit," you will see your results immediately.

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🌈Special Thanks to　Tarebin　-san
(Cover Illustration Creator)

note-705