| Onomatopoeic Phrases (3) | |
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Japanese is filled with onomatopoeic phrases, the words that describe sound or action directly. There are two categories: giongo and gitaigo. Giongo are the words which express voice or sounds. Gitaigo are the words which express actions, states or human emotions. They are often made of more than one word, which is the same word repeated again. Click here for previous lessons about onomatopoeic phrases.
This week we will take a look at onomatopoeic phrases related to hunger, eating, taste and so on.
Hunger
| peko peko ペコペコ ( be awfully hungry) |
Asagohan o tabenakatta node, onaka ga peko peko da. 朝ご飯を食べなかったので、おなかがペコペコだ｡ ( Since I didn't have breakfast, I am starving.) |
| guu guu ぐうぐう ( stomach rumbles) |
Kaigichuu ni onaka ga guu guu natte, hazukashikatta. 会議中におなかがぐうぐうなって、恥ずかしかった｡ ( I was embarrassed that my stomach rumbled during the meeting.) |
| kara kara からから ( very dry) |
Nodo ga kara kara datta node, biiru ga totemo oishiku kanjirareta. のどがからからだったので、 ビールがとてもおいしく感じられた｡ ( Since my throat was very dry, beer tasted very good.) |
Eating
| gatsu gatsu がつがつ ( hungrily, voraciously) |
Onaka ga totemo suiteita node, gatsu gatsu tabeta. おなかがとてもすいていたので、がつがつ食べた｡ ( I was so hungry, and I ate voraciously.) |
| paku paku パクパク ( eat in big mouthfuls, take quick bites) |
Kanojo wa onigiri o oishisouni paku paku tabeta. 彼女はおにぎりをおいしそうにパクパク食べた｡ ( She took quick, pleasurable bites of rice balls.) |
| perori ぺろり ( eat up) |
Kare wa oomori no udon o perori to tairagete shimatta. 彼は大盛りのうどんをぺろりと平らげてしまった｡ (He has eaten up a large serving of noodles.) |
Taste
| assari あっさり ( light, delicate) |
Nihon-ryouri wa chuuka-ryouri yori assari shiteiru. 日本料理は中華料理よりあっさりしている｡ ( Japanese foods are lighter than Chinese foods.) |
| sappari さっぱり ( refreshing) |
Soumen wa sappari shite ite, natsu niwa mottekoi no tabemono da. そうめんはさっぱりしていて、 夏にはもってこいの食べ物だ｡ (Soumen is an ideal food for summer, because of its refreshing taste.) |
| kotteri こってり ( rich, heavy food) |
Kono shichuu wa kotteri shiteiru. このシチューはこってりしている｡ ( This stew is very rich.) |
| karatto からっと ( crisp) |
Karatto agatta tenpura wa totemo oishii. からっと揚げたてんぷらはとてもおいしい｡ ( The crispy tempura is very tasty.) |
| piritto ピリッと ( spicy, hot) |
Karashi o tuskesugita node, shita ni piritto kita. からしをつけすぎたので、舌にピリッときた｡ ( I put on too much mustard, and it burned my tongue.) |
Others
| tappuri たっぷり (full, plenty) |
Asagohan o tappuri tabeta. 朝ご飯をたっぷり食べた｡ ( I had a big breakfast.) |
| muka muka むかむか ( feel nauseous) |
Nomisugi de mune ga muka muka shita. 飲みすぎで胸がむかむかした｡ ( I drank too much and felt nauseous.) |
| unzari うんざり ( fed up, sick and tired) |
Mainichi onaji ryouri de unzari da. 毎日同じ料理でうんざりだ｡ ( I am sick of the same dish every day.) |
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