In this episode of Nihongo no Tane, Yumi discusses onomatopoeia in Japanese. She mentions that there are approximately 5,000 onomatopoeic words in Japanese, making it the language with the most onomatopoeia in the world.

Onomatopoeic words can have multiple meanings and be used in various situations. For example, you probably know ペラペラ to mean "fluent" when describing someone's language skills, but did you know it can also mean "flimsy" when referring to paper flapping about in the wind? Learning onomatopoeia can be challenging but rewarding. Find a new onomatopoeia expression and use it today!

KEY VOCABULARY:

眼(め)鏡(がね)をかけている to wear glasses [眼(め)鏡(がね) (eye glasses); かける (to put on); (て)いる indicates the state of wearing glasses]

視(し)力(りょく) eyesight; vision [視(し) (visual; vision); 力(りょく)(strength; power)]

～は、もちろん  not only ~; definitely for (driving) [もちろん (of course)]

つまずく to trip (over); to stumble

てしまう to end up with doing ~ [“te-form + しまう” is used for unfavorable situation/outcome or unexpected, surprising or unintended outcome]

～じゃないですか isn’t it; right? [sounds fairly casual]

若返(わかがえ)る to be rejuvenated; to feel younger; to reverse aging [若 (young; youth); 返る(to return)]

擬(ぎ)声(せい)語(ご) onomatopoeia (words that mimic people’s voice or sounds or call that animals or insects make) [擬(ぎ) (quasi-; imitation); 声(せい) (voice); also there is 擬(ぎ)音(おん)語(ご) which is words that mimic sound of things]

擬(ぎ)態(たい)語(ご) onomatopia; mimetic word (word that mimics an action, condition or manner that does not make a sound ) [態(たい) (condition; state of things)]

結構(けっこう) fairly; quite bit; rather [it can also mean “excellent”, “delightful”, “enough” or  “fine”]

～らしい -like ; typical of ~; characteristic of ~ [a suffix which follows noun]

場(ば)面(めん) situation; circumstance

流暢(りゅうちょう)に fluently [流暢(りゅうちょう) (fluent)]

どんどん上(じょう)手(ず)になる to get better at something quickly [どんどん describes quick way that something is being done]

雷(かみなり)thunder

寝(ね)転(ころ)がっている to be lying around (for a period of time) [寝(ね)転(ころ)がってte-form of 寝(ね)転(ころ)がる(to lie down; to throw oneself down)]

のどを鳴(な)らす to make a sound with one’s throat [のど (throat); 鳴(な)らす (to ring; to make a sound)]

一(ひと)つ一(ひと)つ one by one

丁寧(ていねい)に thoroughly; carefully; with care

無理(むり) impossible; not able

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-126

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-126-m

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