Australia and the World Past and Present

These are mimetic words. They can be divided into different categories such as sounds made by people and animals, sounds made by inanimate objects, states of being, types of movement and one’s inner feelings. Here follows a select list.

すやすや – suyasuya -sleeping peacefully

くすくす – kusukusu – giggle

ぱくぱく – pakupaku – munching

きょろきょろ – kyoro kyoro – looking all around nervously

めそめそ – mesomeso – weeping

つるつる – tsurutsuru – smooth, slippery

さくさく- sakusaku – crispy

がりがり – garigari – skin and bones

むきむき – mukimuki – muscular

せかせか – sekaseka – fidgeting

ずるずる – zuruzuru – describing a runny nose / dragging

だぶだぶ – dabudabu – loose / baggy

ぼつぼつ – botsubotsu – here and there, in spots

丸々 – marumaru – chubby

いそいそ – isoiso – cheerfully

うじゃうじゃ – ujyaujya – in swarms or clusters

かたかた – katakata – clatter

がみがみ – gamigami – nagging or griping

きしきし – kishikishi – to creak or squeak

きびきび – kibikibi – brisk