擬 音 語(ぎおんご)

ぎおんご

noun

onomatopoeia; sound-symbolic word

1. onomatopoeia; word that imitates a sound

A word that represents an actual sound, such as an animal cry, a noise from nature, or a mechanical sound. In Japanese linguistics, this is distinguished from 擬態語(ぎたいご), which describes states or feelings rather than sounds.

「ワンワン」は犬(いぬ)の擬音語(ぎおんご)だ。

'Wan-wan' is an onomatopoeia for a dog.

日本語(にほんご)には擬音語(ぎおんご)が非常(ひじょう)に多(おお)い。

Japanese has a very large number of onomatopoeia.

漫画(まんが)では擬音語(ぎおんご)が効果的(こうかてき)に使(つか)われて臨場感(りんじょうかん)を出(だ)している。

In manga, onomatopoeia are used effectively to create a sense of being there.

Composed of 擬(ぎ) (imitate) + 音(おん) (sound) + 語(ご) (word). Japanese is exceptionally rich in sound-symbolic language, and linguists distinguish between two main categories: 擬音語(ぎおんご) (words imitating actual sounds) and 擬態語(ぎたいご) (words expressing states, textures, or feelings). Together they are called オノマトペ.

Types

ワンワン: a dog barking
ザーザー: heavy rain pouring
ドンドン: knocking or banging
ガタガタ: rattling, clattering

Similar words

擬態語(ぎたいご): mimetic word — describes states or feelings, not actual sounds (e.g., キラキラ 'sparkly', ふわふわ 'fluffy')
擬声語(ぎせいご): words imitating the voices of people and animals (わんわん); some writers use it for all sound words, overlapping with 擬音語(ぎおんご)
オノマトペ: onomatopoeia — loanword from French, used as a general umbrella term

Related Words

Compare: 擬態語(ぎたいご) (mimetic word)

Compare: 擬声語(ぎせいご) (sound-symbolic word)

Compare: オノマトペ (onomatopoeia)

Compare: 感嘆詞(かんたんし) (interjection)

general

Added 2026.4.7 2:28 · Revised 2026.10.20 23:21

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