ガタゴト
がたごと
adverb, noun, onomatopoeia
rumbling, clattering, rattling
1.
rumbling, clattering, rattling
An onomatopoeic word describing the rhythmic, uneven rattling sound made by vehicles moving over rough surfaces or train tracks.
電車がガタゴトと走る。
The train rumbles along.
ガタゴトと揺れるバスに乗った。
I rode a bus that rattled and shook.
古い路面電車がガタゴトと音を立てて街を走っていた。
An old streetcar rattled through the town.
An onomatopoeic word representing the rhythmic rattling of vehicles on tracks or rough surfaces.
PATTERN:
Typically used with the particle と: ガタゴトと走る, ガタゴトと揺れる.
RELATED ONOMATOPOEIA:
- ガタガタ: sharper, more irregular rattling; also means "rickety" or "complaining"
- ゴトゴト: deeper, heavier rumbling sound
NUANCE:
ガタゴト evokes a nostalgic, rhythmic quality — often associated with old trains, streetcars, or horse-drawn carts. It is more pleasant-sounding than ガタガタ, which implies roughness or disrepair.