がんがん

がんがん is an onomatopoeia (擬音語(ぎおんご)) that mimics a pounding or banging sound. It has two main uses: describing pounding sensations and describing doing things with great intensity.

SENSE 1 — POUNDING/THROBBING:

• 頭(あたま)ががんがんする: my head is pounding (especially with hangovers)
• がんがん鳴(な)る: to ring/pound loudly
• がんがん音楽(おんがく)が聞(き)こえる: loud music is blaring

SENSE 2 — VIGOROUSLY/INTENSELY:

• がんがん勉強(べんきょう)する: to study hard/intensively
• がんがん食(た)べる: to eat a lot (energetically)
• がんがん働(はたら)く: to work hard
• エアコンをがんがんつける: to blast the AC

SIMILAR PAIN WORDS:

• ずきずき: throbbing pain (rhythmic, like a pulse)
• きりきり: sharp, piercing pain (stomach)
• がんがん: heavy pounding (typically headaches)

REGISTER:
Casual/informal. Common in everyday conversation.