A

a general interjection: oh, uh, ah
a! あ! exclamation of surprise, alarm, amazement, relief, frustration, fury: Oh! Ack! Agh! Ah! Argh! Also inarticulate sound of pain or passion: Ah! Oh!
aaaa! ああああ! same as above, but more so
aa ああ yes, okay, sure
aa(aaa)n あああん opening the mouth wide, as in “Say ah!” Used when feeding or being fed by someone.
aan, an ああん cry of passion (see a!)
acha あちゃ remorse
agi agi あぎ あぎ bite bite, gnaw, sink your cute little fangs into (see also agu agu, kaji)
agu agu あぐ あぐ bite bite (see also agi agi, kaji)
ahaha あはは laughter (see also ha ha ha for masculine laughter, and ho ho ho for refined feminine laughter)
arayotto, hoisatto あらよっと、ほいさっと K-san: “These are used when one is doing some physical task and finishing it easily. One uses either or both of them at a time.”

B

ba sudden impact. English equivalents would be: bam, bang, crash, ka-boom, thump, thud, wham, whomp, etc. (See also bagu, baki, ban, bashi, bata, batan, bokan, bun, dan, doka, don, doshin, dote, ga, ka, kon, paka, pan, pashi, patan, poka, pon, to, ton, among others.)
bachi ばち crackle (see also bari, biri)
bagu ばぐ impact
baki ばき impact (one of the most common impact sounds) or other very loud sound
ban ばん bang! bam!
ban ばん sometimes added to a scene for dramatic effect, to show that something astonishing or important has happened (see also don)
bara bara ばら ばら rattle rattle (see also chara chara, gara gara)
bari bari ばり ばり crunch, as in eating. K-san: “Pori pori is the quietest crunching. Pori pori is for cookies; bari bari is for chips. Kori kori is for broccoli and asparagus.” (see also kori, pari, pori)
bari bari ばり ばり scratch scratch (see also giri giri, kiri kiri)
bari bari ばり ばり rip rip (see also biri biri)
bari bari ばり ばり crackle, crackle? Anyway, energy or electricity, just like biri biri. Pari pari is a quieter crackle, just as pori is a quieter crunch than bari. (see also bachi)
basa ばさ rustling, e.g. cloth sliding, paper moving (see also pasa)
bashan ばしゃん medium splash (see also zabun for a very big splash)
bashi, bashito ばし、ばしと impact (see also nashi, pashi)
bata, batan ばた、ばたん impact, often used for falling down
batan ばたん door slamming (see also patan)
batchiri ばっちり precise, proper, accurate
bechoべちょdropping something. K-san says it means dropping something sticky (and see beto beto), but we’ve seen it used for Yuusuke dropping Kuwabara. Maybe Kuwabara was sticky at the moment.
bee, bee da べえ、べえだ rudeness, what you say when you stick out your tongue and pull down your eyelid at someone. From ‘Bero bero akkan-bee (or akanbei).’ Like the mocking Western ‘nya nya!’
bero べろ peeling back
bero bero べろ べろ licking over and over, stronger than pero
betari べたり people or objects that stick together (physically or metaphorically)
beto beto べと べと sticky, gummy
bi, biiii び、びいいい highpitched sound: shriek, wail (see also kiiii)
bicha bichaびちゃ びちゃsmall splash (see also bashan for medium splash, zabun for big splash)
bichi bichi びち びち flopping, smacking
biku, bikun, bikkun びく、びくん、びっくん surprise (see also piku)
biri びり electricity, energy
biri biri びり びり tearing, as in ripping cloth, opening a potato chip bag (see also bari, piri)
biron びろん tongue hanging out
bishi whip, slap, smack, depending on the degree of power
boflame, fire (see also gooo, guooo, po). W-san: “‘Bo’ is like the ‘whoosh’ of a gas range turned on.”
bo sluggish and exhausted (see also doyon)
bochan ぼちゃん kerplunk (see also pochan)
bochi bochi ぼち ぼち something happening steadily, as in water dripping
bokan ぼかん sudden impact
boketto ぼけっと gazing vacantly
boko ぼこ boiling, bubbling. Can also be any ‘pop’ or bursting sound. (see also buku)
bon ぼん sound of magical transformation or appearance, often seen with a puff of smoke (see also pon/pom, dororonpa)
bosa bosa ぼさぼさ unkempt, also sitting around lazily
boso boso ぼそ ぼそ muttering, speaking in a hushed, unclear voice. M.J. says of boso, busu, and musu: “All of them what muttered sulky Japanese sounds like–’bananas bananas’ said through the nose, so to speak; because you don’t complain out loud.” (see also busu, guzu, gyaa, musu)
bota ぼた dripping, possibly something thick dripping, like blood. Compare to pi, picha, po, pota. (see also dara dara for thick liquid dripping)
boto boto, bote ぼと ぼと、ぼて falling
botsu ぼつ whoosh
buchi ぶち snap. Can be used metaphorically, such as when Hiei snaps under the pressure of learning he’s a father.
buchi buchi ぶち ぶち ripping, tearing
buchu ぶちっう kiss (see also chu, nchu, uchu)
buku, bukubuku ぶく、ぶくぶく swelling, something swollen (see also puku)
buku, bukubuku ぶく、ぶくぶく boiling, bubbles
bui ぶい ‘V’ for victory. Sound of fingers making the V-sign.
bunchchacha ぶんちっちゃちゃ music. Yes, really. Bun is a slow beat and cha cha quick beats. (see also runtata)
bun, buun ぶん、ぶうん swish
buun ぶうん buzz, whir, as of an insect
buran ぶらん hanging, dangling
burororo ぶろろろ sound of a loud motor, as of an automobile (see also oooo)
Buru ぶる a head being shaken violently in the negative
busu busu ぶす ぶす the sound of something smoldering or smoking. Used for the embers after Hiei’s fire attacks. (see also pusu pusu)
busu, busu busu, usuto, butsu ぶす、ぶす ぶす、うすと、ぶすつ muttered complaining (see boso, guzu, gyaa, musu)
buwa ぶわ explosion
buyo buyo ぶよ ぶよ squishy and swollen, waterlogged
bwahaha ぶっわはは evil laugh, same as fwahaha, gahaha, gwahaha
byu ぶゅ quick movement, such as the leaps Hiei makes (see also hyu, gyu, pyu)

C

chapon, chapu ちゃぽん、ちゃぷ plunk (water sound) (see also shapu)
chara charaちゃら ちゃらrattle, clatter, jingle (see also bara bara, gara gara)
chi, ch’ ち、ちっ Various translators: “I think of it as a tongue-clicking noise.” “It means ‘shit.’” “I think it’s better translated as ‘damn’ since it’s about the equivalent in vulgarity.” “Probably a–mm, vocal referent, would you call it?–to chikushou, another of the ‘oh shit’ words.” You can see why we decided to leave it as ch’. ^_^
chichichi ちちち how you call a cat
chi chi ち ち high shrill noise
chira, chirari, chiron ちら、ちらり、ちろん quick sideways glance
chiri chiri ちり ちり curly, frizzy
chiri chiri ちり ちり tingle of heat, shiver of cold (see also zoku for shiver)
chirin ちりん chime
chiyahoya ちやほや fuss over, butter up
choki choki ちょき ちょき cutting, as with knives or scissors
chokon ちょこん small and quiet
chu ちゅ kiss (see also nchu, uchu)
chu ちゅ suck (as through a straw)
chun chun ちゅん ちゅん chirp chirp (see also pii pii for peep peep)

D

da da da, daaaaaaaaだ だ だ、だああああ running away (see also do do do, ta, ta ta ta)
dan だん bang, boom, sudden impact
dara dara だら だら continuous dripping of thick liquid, like blood, sweat, saliva drool (see also jo, jururu, zururu)
dere dere でれ でれ sloppy, loose. Also to go goofy over someone, to fawn.
do big impact
do heartbeat, the loudest kind! (see also doki doki, dokun, tokun)
do do do do ど ど ど ど footsteps, especially heavy footsteps, running (see also da)
do do do do ど ど ど ど quick punches
Dobi どび missed kick
doka どか impact
doki doki どき どき heartbeat (see also dokun, tokun)
dokun どくん harder heartbeat (see also doki, tokun)
don どん BIG impact
don どん sometimes added to a scene for dramatic effect, to show that something astonishing or important has happened (see also ban)
dondon どんどん continuous action
dopyu どぴゅ spurting (as in blood) K-san: “The ‘pyu’ is the spurting (quick action, just like ‘pyu’ on its own), and the ‘do’ emphasizes it, just as in ‘dosu.’”
doron, dororonpa どろん、どろろんぱ the sound of magical transformation (see also bon, pon, pom)
dorya どりゃ what to yell as you attack; a fighting taunt or war cry. (see also ora, orya, sorya, uraa)
dosa どさ thud of something heavy (often a person or body) hitting the floor
doshin どしん impact
Dosshu どっしゅ a cut through bone
dosu どす spurting. K-san: “The ‘su’ is the spurting, and the ‘do’ emphasizes it, just as in ‘dopyu.’”
dotabata どたばた running around wildly, as in panic or confusion (compare to jitabata for flailing)
dote どて impact, falling. W-san: “This sound is often used in reference to the frequent, usually comical falls toddler are always taking. With adults it means a careless, slapstick fall.”
doyon どよん sluggish and exhausted, depressed (see also bo)

E

e! e? え!、え? what! huh? We usually translate this as ‘eh?’ although the Japanese ‘e?’ is less colloquial and informal than the Western ‘eh?’
e, eeee え、えええ cry, wail (see also hu-e, miiii)
ee ええ yes, okay, sure
eeto ええと (said by a character) um, er, uh. What you say while you’re thinking of what to say.
ehen えへん we’ve had this translated as both ‘ahem!’ and ‘haha!’
ei えい shriek

F

fua, fuwa, fa ふあ、ふわ、ふぁ yawn
fu, fua (hu hua) ふ、ふあ sigh, blowing breath out (as in blowing out a candle)
fu fu fu (hu hu hu) ふ ふ ふ a strange laugh. M.J.: “The evil chuckle in the back of the throat.” (see also ku ku ku, pu pu pu)
fuki fuki ふき ふき wiping
fumi ふみ step, stomp
fumu (humu) ふむ hmmph, hmm, uh-huh (see also umu)
funka funka (hunka hunka) ふんか ふんか sniff sniff, inhale (see also nku, kunka)
fura ふら yawn (see also fua)
fura ふら drift
fura ふら dizziness (see also kura)
fura, fura fura ふら、ふら ふら wobble, totter
fura, furi, furu ふら、ふり、ふる tremble, quiver (see also puru)
fusa ふさ abundant, soft hair. (Or, in these stories, somebody touching it.)
fuwa, fuwato ふわ、ふわと gentle movement, lifting or floating
fuwari, funwara ふわり、ふんわら even gentler, calmer movement than fuwato
fwahaha ふわはは evil laugh, same as bwahaha, gahaha, gwahaha

G

ga yet another impact word
gaba がば grab (see also gashi, gu, gui, gya, gyu, ku, kyu)
gaba gaba がば がば gurgling
gaba gaba がば がば too big (as of clothes)
gacha, gachari がちゃ、がちゃり the click of something opening, such as a latch, a door, or even a belt (see also kacha)
gahaha がはは evil laugh, same as bwahaha, fwahaha, gwahaha
gakin がきん clash
gak がく shaking, wobbling (see also kaku, kakun)
gakun, gakunto, gakuri がくん、がくんと、がくり to collapse, fall
gapu がぷ big bite, chomp (see also paku)
gan があん revelation, usually horrible
GAAA-N があああーん BIG revelation, always horrible
gangan がんがん strong or violent action
gara gara, garan がら がら、がらん clatter, rattle (see also bara bara, chara chara)
gasa, goso がさ、ごそ rustle, stealthy movement
gashan がしゃん crash, impact (see also gashin, gochin)
gashi がし grab (see also gaba, gyu)
gashin がしん crash, impact (see also gashan, gochin)
gasshiri がっしり solid
gata, gatan がた、がたん to reel in shock from a revelation
gata, gatan がた、がたん to fall or collapse
gatsu gatsu/gatu gatu がつ がつ gobble food (see also hau hau, paku)
gaya がや excited crowd sound
gebo げぼ throwing up
gefu げふ belch, burp
geho げほ cough (see also goho, kehen, kon, koho)
gennari げんんあり exhausted
geshi geshi げし げし not sure about this. At times it seems to be a wiping sound like goshi ; at others either a squashing or rustling sound. Maybe a general cloth sound?
gi gi, giiee ぎ ぎ、ぎいええ sounds Kurama’s plants (and other evil plants) make. (for other menacing sounds see go go go and uzo uzo)
giku, gikuri ぎく、ぎくり surprise (see also biku, piku)
gin ぎん glare, stare at (see also giro)
gira ぎら twinkle, shine, glint (see also kira, kiran)
giri giri ぎり ぎり scratching, grinding, more vigorous than kiri (see also bari bari)
giri giri ぎり ぎり at the limit, to have no time or space to spare
giro ぎろ glare, stare at (see also gin)
gishi ぎし creaking (see also kishi)
Gitai-go ぎたいーご not a sound effect, but the Japanese word for onomatopoeia, or sound effects.
go go go go ご ご ご ご general menace, a threatening atmosphere. (for other menacing sounds, see gi gi and uzo uzo)
gochin ごちん impact. W-san: “Another comical collision sound.” (see also gashan, gashin)
gofu ごふ cough
goho, gohon ごほ、ごほん a deep, wet cough, also vomiting up water (see also geho, gofu, kehen, kon, koho)
goku, gokun ごく、ごくん gulp, swallow (see also kokun)
goooo ごおおお a roar. Can be a fire sound, often used for Hiei’s fire attacks (see also bo, guooo, po)
goro goro ごろ ごろ purr purr
goro, goron ごろ、ごろん rolling over. It’s supposed to be something heavy rolling over, but we’ve seen it used for tiny little Hiei rolling. Maybe it means he’s rolling heavily.
goshi ごし scrubbing, rubbing, wiping (see also koshi)
goso ごそ rummage, rustle
goun ごうん the sound of a washing machine. Really. At least, we’ve seen it used for that specifically by two different djka. The sound of a dryer, however, is guon (see the difference?)
gowa gowa ごわ ごわ stiff, rigid gu = grabbing, pulling (see also gaba, gui, gyu)
gu what you sound like when you’re sleeping (see also supigu, ku, suka, suya, gussuri.) Gu and ku are similar to zzzzz. Supigu is peaceful sleep. K-san says “it’s sort of a whistling sound.”
gu stomach growling (see also ku, kyururu)
gucha ぐちゃ smashing, crushing (see also gusha)
guchi guchi ぐち ぐち wet sound? twisting sound? We’re not sure.
gui ぐい grab (see also gaba, gu, gyu)
gui ぐい gulp
Gunya ぐんや sudden mental realization
guon ぐおん the sound of a dryer. For the sound of a washing machine, see goun
guooo ぐおおお a roar. Can be a fire sound, often used for Hiei’s fire attacks (Cf. bo, goooo, po)
gura ぐら stagger, move shakily (see also zuru)
guri ぐり to give noogies
gusha ぐしゃ squeeze, grab, crush (see also gucha)
gussuri ぐっすり deep sleep (see also gu, ku, suka, supigu, suya)
gutta, guttari ぐった、ぐったり droopy, wilted, limp. Used to describe people or plants. (see also kuta)
gutto, guutto ぐっと、ぐうっと extreme concentration, also strong emotion
guzu ぐず whine, grumble (see also boso, busu, gyaa)
gwahaha ぐわはは evil laugh, same as bwahaha, fwahaha, gahaha
gya ぎゃ shriek (see also kya)
gya ぎゃ grab (see also gaba, gyu)
gyaa gyaa ぎゃあ ぎゃあ whine, grumble (see also boso, busu, guzu)
gyぎょshock
gyu, kyu ぎゅ、きゅ grab, squeeze, twist (see also gaba, gya)
gyuu, gyuun ぎゅう、ぎゅうん fast motion (see also byu, hyu, pyu)

H

ha! は! sound of surprise or realization. Can mean catching breath in shock or panic.
ha, haa haa は、はあ はあ panting, exhalation
ha ha ha ははは laughter (masculine laughter, as opposed to ho ho ho, which is refined feminine laughter) (see also ahaha)
hakkiri はっきり clear, unambiguous
hamu はむ bite, chew, glomp, as in Lively Little Hiei-chan glomping onto a spoon
hara hara はら はら to fall gently, like a flower petal….
hata はた soft, quiet landing noise. (for a louder rattle see gata)
hau hau はう はう gobbling (see also gatsu, paku)
he he he へへへ heh heh heh (laugh)
hena hena へな へな worn out, exhausted. (see also heto heto)
henshin へんしん transformation (as from Tsukino Usagi to Sailor Moon). We’ve seen it used at least once as a sound effect.
hero hero へろ へろ spineless, limp, or pliable (see also mero, pura, puran)
heta へた collapsing, sitting down in despair or exhaustion
heto heto へと へと worn out, exhausted. (see also hena hena)
hiee ひええ exclamation: eek, yikes
hiii, hiiie ひいい、ひいいえ shriek
hihiin ひひいん high-pitched whinny, as of a horse
hiku, hiku hiku ひく、ひく ひく shaking, as with anger or sobs (compare to shiku)
hiku ひく hiccup
hiri hiri ひり ひり continuous pain or irritation
hiso hiso ひそ ひそ whisper whisper
hiya hiya ひや ひや fear, worry
hn へん huh, hrumph, humph. Traditional spelling of Hiei’s traditional interjection. When anybody else says it, we’ve rendered it huh or humph..
hoisatto, arayotto ほいさっと、あらよっと K-san: “These are used when one is doing some physical task and finishing it easily. One uses either or both of them at a time.”
ho ho ho ほ ほ ほ laughter, specifically, refined feminine laughter. (see also ahahaha, ha ha ha for masculine laughter)
hoka hoka ほか ほか warmth, heat (internal or external)
honobono ほのぼの peaceful, harmonious, tranquil
hooo ほおお wind
hote hote ほて ほて toddle toddle (see also tote)
hu, hua (fu, fua) ふ、ふあ sigh
hu hu hu ふ ふ ふ (or fu fu fu) a strange laugh
hu-e ふーえ cry, wail (see also e, miiii)
hun ふん huh, hrumph, humph (see hn)
hunka hunka (funka funka) ふんか ふんか sniff sniff
hyoi ひょり popping up suddenly, quick movement such as reaching
hyoko ひょこ popping up suddenly
hyu, hyun ひゅ、ひゅん quick movement, such as the leaps Hiei makes, or Kurama’s whip moving (see also byu, gyu, pyu)
hyuuuuu ひゅううう cold wind, lonely wind

I

icha icha, ichakura ichakura いちゃ いちゃ、いちゃくら displaying affection in public. K-san: “touching and carrying on.” Acting spoony. ^_-
ira ira いら いら fume fume. It’s also been suggested that this is the sound of clenched or grinding teeth.
iso iso いそ いそ moving blithely, happily

J

ja, jaaaa じゃ、じゃあああ water/liquid flowing or rushing, or any other hissing sound (see also jo, ju, zu)
ja ja ja じゃ じゃ じゃ hiss hiss hiss (such as the sound of Kurama frying something)
jabon じゃぼん big splash (see also shapu, zabu, and bashan, picha, pisha for smaller splashes)
jaki じゃき glint of something sharp
jan, jan jan じゃん じゃん じゃん tada!
jiiiiii, jiiiin, jiiiito, jiiiton じいいい、じいいいん、じいいいと、じいいいとん、 the sound of staring, of silence, or of remaining frozen/ motionless. Often used in djs to indicate that a character is moved beyond words, stunned beyond words, or just generally beyond words. (see also shiiiin) As a word, jitto emphasizes being motionless, jiitto emphasizes the duration of being still.
jiku jiku じく じく numbness
jiro, jiro-jiro-to じろ、じろーじろーと a hard look. ‘Jiro-jiro-to’ means ‘in a fixed, staring manner.’
jiri, jiri jiri じり、じり じり something scraping on the ground. Sometimes used for a charater inching forward or backward
jitabatじたばっflail one’s arms and legs (or one’s tail, in the case of ‘The Mermaid Princess’ ) (compare to dotabata for running around in confusion)
jiwa じわ tears welling up
jiwa jiwa じわ じわ slowly but steadily
jo, joro joro じょ、じょろ じょろ water/liquid flowing or pouring (see also dara dara, jururu, zururu)
jururu じるる drool (see also dara dara, jo, zururu)

K

ka(a) かあ light (see also pa, po)
ka, kan か、かん heels going click, footsteps
kaa かあ face turning red, blushing (see also po)
kacha かちゃ the click of something opening, such as a latch, a door, or even a belt (see also gacha)
kaji かじ bite, gnaw, sink your little fangs into (see also agi, agu, kari)
kaku かく scratching, running a hand through hair, paddling a hand in water
kaku, kakun かく、かくん shaking, wobbling, losing balance (see also gaku)
kapan かぱん rattle, open (compare to batan, patan for closing)
kara から empty
karakara からから bone dry
karan からん rattle, open
kari kari かり かり something scratching on something else, e.g., a pen on paper, somebody’s little fangs on your head
kasa, kase かさ、かせ rustle. Commonly used for a quiet footstep in the grass, also can be paper, cloth, or other material rustling.
katsu katsu かつ かつ clomp clomp
kehen けへん cough (see also geho, gofu, goho, kon, koho)
kerori けろり unaffected, casual, unimpressed
ki glare, the glint of a dagger eye
kii きい squeak, high-pitched sound, as in a door squeaking
kiiiii! きいいい! long high-pitched sound: brakes squealing, hysterical scream (see also biiii for shrieking)
kichi kichi きち きち full, jam-packed
kichin, kichinto きちん、きちんと meticulously, carefully
kin kon, kan kon, kin koun (and other variations) きん こん、かん こん、きん こうん ding dong, as of a school bell (see also pin pon)
kippari きっぱり flatly, definitely, clearly (to say something this way)
kira, kiran, kirari きら、きらん、きらり twinkle, shine, glint (see also gira)
kiri kiri きり きり scratching or scraping, less vigorous than giri
kiri kiri きり きり business, haste
kishi きし creaking (see also gishi)
kochoku こちょく frozen, paralyzed
koho こほ cough (see also goho, kehen, kon)
koi こい come on (as a fighting phrase)
koi koi こい こい come, come, beckoning
kokun こくん swallow (see also goku, gokun)
kokuri, kokkun こくり、こっくん nod
kon こん quiet impact, such as knocking at a door
kon こん soft cough (see also goho, kehen, koho)
kopo こぽ pouring
kori こり crunch, as in eating. K-san: “Pori pori is the quietest crunching. Pori pori is for cookies; bari bari is for chips. Kori kori is for broccoli and asparagus.” (see also bari, pari, pori)
kori kori こり こり scraping
koro, koron ころ、ころん dropping something, something rolling or tumbling (see also poro)
koshi koshi こし こし rubbing, wiping (see also goshi, geshi)
koso, kossori こそ、こっそり sneaky, doing something stealthily
koto, kotsun こと、こつん little clink, like the sound of a glass being put down or a tear gem falling.
kotsu kotsu こつ こつ slowly but surely
ku sleeping (see also gu, supigu, suka, suya)
ku, ku ku, ku ku ku く、く く giggle in the throat
ku, kukyururu, kyururu く、くきゅるる、きゅるる stomach rumbling, tummy growling
kudo kudo くど くど repetitive
kuha くは yawn (see also fua, fa)
kukaa くかあ sleepy breathing
kukuri くくり distinct, clear
kun kun くん くん smelling
kune kune くね くね wiggling like a snake (see also nyoro nyoro)
kunka kunka くんか くんか sniff sniff (as of smelling). (see also funka, hunka, nku)
kura くら dizziness (see also fura)
kurin くりん curling (as in the movement of tentacles or an unhappy dog’s tail)
kuru くる turning
kusha, kushu, kushun くしゃ、くしゅ、くしゅん sneeze: ker-choo!
kusu くす little laugh
kuta, kutari くた、くたり droopy, wilted, limp. Used to describe people or plants. (see also guttari)
kya きゃ shriek (see also gya)
kyapi kyapi きゃぴ きゃぴ happy noisy girlish chattering
kyoro kyoro きょろ きょろ looking this way and that, searching for something with the eyes
kyu, gyu きゅ、ぎゅ grab
kyururu, ku, kukyururu きゅるる、く、くきゅるる stomach rumbling, tummy growling

M

meki meki めき めき quick progress
mero mero めろ めろ limp, floppy (see also hero, pura, puran)
meso meso めそ めそ whimper, sniffle
miii みいい cry, wail (see also e, hu-e)
Miin miin みいん みいん The sound of cicadas in the summer
mishi mishi みし みし creak creak
moji moji もじ もじ shyness
moku もく eating, munching (see also mugu)
momもみgroping (this one comes up a lot, sadly)
mu, musu, mumuu, muun む、むす、むむう、むうん grimace, anger, sulkiness. It’s been suggested that the sound of ‘mu’ is a sort of closed-mouth grunt–perhaps similar to the sound of disapproval Marge Simpson makes?
mugu, muku むぐ、むく eating, munching with closed mouth (see also moku)
muka muka むか むか sick, nauseated
muku むく getting up, sitting up
munyu むんゆ The sound of groping–usually a girl’s chest
mura mura めら むら sexual arousal

N

n? ん? Hm? Huh?
n a grunt, as of surprise, effort, sleepiness, pain, or passion. We’ve had translators render the actual sound in different ways: mm, n, nh, ngh, ng, ung, unh. Lately we’ve been going with nh or ng.
nade nade なで なで stroke stroke, pet pet
nashi なし smack (see also bashi, pashi)
nchu んちゅ kiss (see also buchu, chu, uchu)
ni, niko, nikori に、にこ、にこり smile, grin (see also nipa, nita)
nipa a)(にぱあ brilliant smile, grin (see also niko, nita)
nisho にしゃ effort (see also nsho, nshotto, yoisho)
nita にた sinister smile (see also niko, nipa)
niyari, nyari にやり、にゃり leer
nku んく sniff sniff, inhale (see also funka, hunka, kunka)
nnuuu んぬうう see nuuu
noro noro のろ のろ slowness
nsho, nshotto んしゃ、んしょっと effort (see also nisho, unsho, yoisho)
nukenuke, nukenuketo ぬけぬけ、ぬけぬけと nonchalantly (to speak or act that way)
nuru, nuru nuru, nurun ぬる、ぬる ぬる greasing, soaping, making slippery
nuuuu ぬうううう menace. W-san: “‘Nuu’ is often used when something unknown, mysterious, or big appears out of nowhere.”
nyari, niyari にゃり、にやり leer
nyoro nyoro にょろ にょろ W-san: “Something long and thin like a snake moving along with a wriggling motion.” (see also kune kune)

O

oi おい hey!
oisho, yoisho, nsho, nshotto, nisho おいしょ、よいしょ、んしょ、んしょっと effort, strain: Oof! Umph!
oo! おお! approving exclamation: Oh! Whoa!
oooo おおおお wind howling
oooo おおおお menacing roar, animal or mechanical (such as the roar of an engine) (see also buroro)
ora ora おら おら what you say when you punch somebody repeatedly. A fighting taunt or war cry; we’ve had it loosely translated as “Take that!” “Try this!” (see also dorya, orya, sorya, uraa)
oro oro おろ おろ shock, surprise, befuddlement, confusion. (You don’t usually say it, though, unlike Kenshin.)
orya おりゃ what to yell as you attack; a fighting taunt or war cry. (see also dorya, ora, sorya, uraa)
osoru osoru おそる おそる timidly

P

pa(a) ぱあ light, shining (see also ka, po)
pachi ぱち K-san: “A sharp, snappy sound.” Can be click, crackle, clap, crack, etc. We’ve seen it used for opening eyes, bursting veins, clapping, and indeterminate ominous things happening.
paka ぱか opening, separating. W-san: “A sound describing something opening in half. Like when Peachboy came out of his giant peach, the sound the peach made was ‘paka.’”
paka ぱか snap
paku ぱく closing mouth on food, chomp (see also gapu)
paku paku ぱく ぱく opening and closing mouth, eating, gobbling. This is where Pac-man came from! (see also hau, gatsu)
pan ぱん sudden impact
pan pan ぱん ぱん pat, pat or smack, smack, as of dusting hands (or oneself) off
pari ぱり crunch, as in eating (see also bari, kori, pori) pari pari = crackle, as of energy or electricity. Quieter than bari bari.
parin ぱりん crash, clash pasa = rustling, e.g. cloth sliding, paper moving
pasha ぱしゃ splashing, as with the hand (see also pisha) For a big splash, see zabun.
pashi ぱし impact: smack! click! (see also bashi, nashi)
pata pata ぱた ぱた flap flap
patata ぱたた spatter spatter
patan ぱたん door slamming (see also batan)
pechanko, peshanko ぺちゃんき、ぺしゃんこ flattened, crushed
peko ぺこ bow
peko peko ぺこ ぺこ bow over and over (grovel)
pero, pero pero ぺろ、 ぺろ、ぺろ licking (see also bero)
peron ぺろん rolling up or down, or flipping
petan, petanto ぺたん、ぺたんと smooth, flat. Also, to flop down on the floor.
pi beep, peep, any other short high-pitched sound
pi, picha, pichon ぴ、ぴちゃ、ぴちょん drip (see also po, pochan, pota)
pichi ぴち flap, bounce, snap (see also bichi)
piiii ぴいいい shrill sound, beeper, telephone, whistle
piii piii ぴいい ぴいい chirp chirp
piku, pikuri ぴく、ぴくり blink, noticing something. May be from piku = twitch = pricking up the ears.
piku ぴく twitch
pin pon ぴん ぽん ding dong, bell (see also kin kon)
piri ぴり tearing, as in ripping cloth, opening a potato chip bag ) see also biri
piri piri ぴり ぴり sharp sensation, as of pain, electricity, spiciness. Can be the sharpness or electricity of a glare.
pisha ぴしゃ splashing, as with the hand (see also pasha) For a big splash, see zabun.
pishi ぴし crack (as of a whip), smack (see also bishi)
pita ぴた stopping
pito ぴと gentle touch
piyo ぴよ peep
po, pochan, pota ぽ、ぽちゃん、ぽた drip, plunk. Pochan = kerplunk! (see also pi, picha, pichon, pochi)
po flame, light. Can also be blushing. For other fire sounds see bo, gooo, guooo. Other light sounds include paa, kaa.
Po Po’s nom de plume. Has nothing to do with sound effects, and everything to do with Tinky Winky, Dipsy, and Laa Laa.
pochi pochi ぽち ぽち something happening steadily, as in water dripping
poi ぽい throwing or tossing something
poka ぽか impact
poka poka ぽか ぽか warmth of the sun
pon ぽん impact, fairly quiet
pon, pom ぽん、ぽむ sound of magical transformation or appearance, often seen with a puff of smoke (see also bon, dororonpa)
pootto ぽおっと dazed, obsessed
pori pori ぽり ぽり eating, crunching, softer than ‘bari bari.’ K-san: “Pori pori is the quietest crunching. Pori pori is for cookies; bari bari is for chips. Kori kori is for broccoli and asparagus.” (see also bari, kori, pari)
poro, poto ぽろ、ぽと dropping something, something rolling (see also koro, koron)
potsun ぽつん aloneness, separation
puchi puchi ぷち ぷち pop pop, crackle crackle
puku, pukupuku ぷく、ぷくぷく swelling, something swollen (see also buku)
pun pun ぷん ぷん bad-smelling
pu pu pu, upupupu ぷ ぷ ぷ、うぷぷぷ yet another strange laugh (see also fu fu fu)
pura pura, puran ぷら ぷら、ぷらん limp, floppy (see also hero, mero)
puri puri ぷり ぷり anger (see also puuu)
puru ぷる shake, quiver (see also puri, furu)
pusu ぷす puncturing, penetrating
pusu pusu ぷす ぷす the sound of something smoldering or smoking (see also busu busu)
puu ぷうう puff
puuuu ぷううう anger (see also puri puri)
puutto ぷうっと snort, honk, fart
pyu ぴゅ fast motion (see also byu, gyu, hyu)

R

runtata るんたた music. In this case, used for something Hiei-chan is humming. Run is a slow beat and tata quick beats. (see also bunchacha)

S

sa, saa さ、さあ hissing, rain, water running (softer sound than zaa, which can also be rain)
sa, saaaa さ、さあああ rustling, wind
sa, sasa さ、ささ quick motion
sa, saku さ、さく step
sara sara さら さら smooth, light, dry
sasu sasu さす さす rubbing
sawa, sawayaka さわ、さわやか cool, refreshing, something that makes you feel refreshed (see also suka)
sesseto せっせと working steadily
shaaa しゃああ something slicing through air: whishhh!
shaka shaka しゃか しゃか scrape scrape
shapu shapu しゃぷ しゃぷ splash (see also zabun)
shiiin しいいん the sound of staring, of silence, or of remaining frozen/ motionless. Often used in djs to indicate that a character is moved beyond words, stunned beyond words, or just generally beyond words. (see also jiiiin)
shiku shiku しく しく sobbing, whimpering
shire しれ shrug (we think) Definitely a strange ‘don’t look at me’ look.
shittori しっとり moist. Also calm, soothing.
shizu しず move solemnly
shobo shobo しょぼ しょぼ sadness, moping
shu しゅ quick movement, fabric rubbing, swish
shuuuu しゅううう fog, mist, steam
shubo しゅぼ the sound of a flame igniting, e.g. lighting a lighter. (Maybe shu = quick movement/rubbing plus bo = light.)
shun しゅん W-san: “This sound describes something wilting. It can be used for people, to describe being sad.”
shuru, shururu, shurun しゅる、しゅるる、しゅるん snaking motion. Often used for Rose Whip or other vines or tendrils snaking around.
sorya そりゃ what to yell as you attack; a fighting taunt or war cry. (see also dorya, ora, orya, uraa)
sosokusa そそくさ running away quickly, beating a hasty retreat
sowa sowa そわ そわ restless, fidgety (as in ‘Ammari sowasowa shinaide!’ (Don’t get so fidgety!), the first line of ‘Lum no Love Song’)
su breathe in (compare to fu, breathe out)
su slow movement, e.g. cloth slowly slipping off, someone moving smoothly
sube sube すべ すべ smooth
subu すぶ see tsubu
sui すい smooth movement, as of a good skater
suka すか whooshy sound. K-san: “the sound of swinging a baseball bat and missing.” Togashi frequently uses it for punches missing.
suka すか something sparse. K-san: “When you get a big box which is light for its size, and you shake it, and the packing material makes rustling sounds, that’s suka suka. Or when you put on a big pair of jeans, you say ‘These are suka suka (too big).’”
suka, suya すか、すや sleeping (see also gu, ku, supigu)
suka, sukari, sukkiri, sukato すか、すかい、すっきり、すかと feeling of refreshment. K-san: “for example, when you drink a carbonated drink on a hot day.” (see also sawa, sawayaka)
sukon すこん plunk, plonk
suku すく getting up, standing up
sunari すなり slender, smooth, graceful (see also surari)
supa, supari すぱ、すぱり cutting or breaking something (see also zuba)
supigu すぴぐ peaceful sleep, a whistling sound (see also gu, ku, suka, suya)
suppa suppa すっぱ すっぱ puff puff
supo すぷ pop? Anyway, the sound of tight something being pulled off (or pulled out), such as Hiei’s boot coming off his foot, or an arrow coming out of Hiei-chan’s head.
surari, surarito すらり、すらりと long and straight, slim, slender (see also sunari)
suru する slow movement, e.g. cloth slowly slipping off….
suta すた landing (as in after you’ve jumped)
sutatata すたたた running
suten すてん falling
sutetete すててて a little kid running fast
suton すとん sit

T

taaaaa たあああ dashing, running (see also da, do do do, tatata)
tappuri たっぷり full, stuffed
tatatata たたたた running lightly
tehe てへ teehee, giggle
teka teka てか てか shiny, smooth surface
teku teku てく てく walking (see also to to to, toko toko)
ten ten tenmari tentemari てん てん てんまり てんてまり traditional song to accompany bouncing a ball
tere てれ abashed. K-san: “Embarrassed in a happy way. Like when you’re asked out on a date by somebody you like, you go ‘tere.’”
to quiet impact, e.g. a soft landing from a jump
to to to と と と walking (see also teku, toko)
to, ton, tonde と、 とん、とんで jumping
tobo tobo とぼ とぼ dejected walking
toko toko とこ とこ walking (see also teku teku)
tokun とくん harder heartbeat (see also dokun)
ton とん fairly quiet impact
tontonton とんとんとん chopchopchop (as of food) or any other light continuous action (see also dondondon)
toppuri とっぷり night falling, the sun disappearing
tote とて toddle toddle (see also hote)
tsu A small tsu on its own in a word balloon puzzled us for a while. We tried various things, but finally M.J. came up with what we think is the best solution. “I hear it as a slightly high-pitched ‘uh’ made by catching your breath in your throat.” So from now on we’re translating it as ‘uh.’
tsu, su つ、す rain
tsu, tsuuuu つ、つううう bzzzzzzzz (insect sound)
tsubu つぶ eyes (and only eyes) closing
tsun tsun つん つん bad-smelling, stinky (see also pun pun)
tsuru, tsurun つる、つるん sliding, also used for something smooth or slick
tsutsutsu, sususu つつつ、すすす sliding
tsuya tsuya つや つや shining, glowing

U

u ugh, urgh, ulp! A grunt or growl of surprise, pain, or anger.
uchu うちゅ kiss (see also buchu, chu, nchu)
ugogo うごご choking
uka uka, ukkari うか うか、うっかり daydreaming, not paying attention
ukkun うっくん swallow, gulp (see also gokun, kokun)
umu うむ uh, uh-huh, hmm (see also fumu)
uni うに the noise you make with your mouth when you’re waking up
unsho うんしょ effort (see also nsho, yoisho)
unzari うんざり bored, fed up
uraaa, uryaaa うらああ、うりゃああ roar, war cry (see also dorya, ora, orya, sorya)
ura ura うら うら swaying
uto うと nodding off
utsura うつら half-asleep
uttori うっとり enraptured by beauty
uuu ううう sound of anger: Urrgh!
uwaaaa! うわああ! exclamation: Auuugh!
uzo uzo うぞ うぞ menace. A sound that evil creatures and nasty plants make. (see also gi gi and go go go)

W

wa! わ! (a character saying it) Wow! Ack!
waa, waaa waaa わあ、わああ わああ (a crowd’s) excited roar (see also wai wai, wara wara)
wai わい (a character saying it) feminine exclamation of delight. M.J. says of ‘wai’ and ‘wai wai,’ “Both are also kid’s language for delight, is why female characters say it to be cute, I think.”
wai wai わい わい (as a background effect) noise, excitement, lots of people talking (see also wa, wara wara)
waku, waku waku わく、わく わく excitement. K-san: “Happy cute excitement.”
wan wan わん わん bow wow
wara wara わら わら crowd noise (see also waa, wai wai)
wasa wasa わさ わさ rustle rustle?
wata wata わた わた flap flap

Y

yaho, yahoi やほ、やほい yoohoo! hey! hi!
yakimoki やきもき fretting, worrying
yanwari やんわり soft, gentle
yare-yare やれーやれ one of the words/phrases we’ve left in the original. What you say when you’re frustrated, exasperated, or giving up: Oh, well. What the heck. Good grief.
yoisho よいしょ effort (see also nsho, unsho)
yoji よじ the sound a cockroach makes when crawling up your back. May be related to jiri jiri, which is inching.
yoro, yororo よろ、よろろ stagger, waddle, walk shakily
yusa ゆさ shaking (something)

Z

za, za za za ざ、ざ ざ ざ footstep on grass, walking quickly or running through grass or bushes
za generic white noise sound, can be tv static, etc.
ZA! ざ! strong, energetic movement.
za za, zaa zaaa ざ ざ、ざああ ざあああ rustling, e.g., wind rustling in leaves, grass
zaa ざあ rain (louder rain than saa)
zaba, zabu, zabun ざば、ざぶ、ざぶん big splash (see also jabon, shapu, and bashan, picha, pisha for smaller splashes)
ZAKU! ざく! cross between za and zoku?
zashu ざしゅ lash, slash
zawa ざわ rustle (May be specific to plants, we’ve seen it used for trees and Kurama’s power rising.)
zawa ざわ crowd noise
ze, zei ぜ、ぜい wheeze, gasp
zoku, zotto ぞく、ぞっと chill or shiver (see also chiri)
zooon ぞおおん rumbling, shaking
zu drool or other liquid flowing
zu sip, slurp (see also zuzu)
zu, zun ず、ずん vigorous motion
zuuu, zuuun ずうう、ずううん disappointment, sadness. W-san: “It often describes things sinking, and can mean a sinking heart.”
zuba, zubari ずば、ずばり to slice or cut with a single blow (see also supa)
zugagaga, zugogogo ずががが、ずごごご combination of vigorous action and menace? Anyway, loud drastic things happening.
zuki ずき sharp pain
zumo, zumomomo ずも、ずももも menace, looming
zunguri ずんぐり dumpy
zuri, zuriri, zuru ずり、ずりり、ずる stagger when walking, or fall back in shock (see also gura)
zuru ずる sip, slurp (see also zuzu)
zuru ずる strong movement, more vigorous than ‘suru’
zuru, zuru zuru ずる、ずる ずる something heavy dragging or being pulled
zururu ずるる slurp (see jururu)
zusasa ずささ zu (vigorous) plus sasa (quick motion). We’ve seen it used for a quick scuttling recoil.
zuzu ずず sip (see also zuru)
inserted by FC2 system