Japanese Onomatopoeia for Describing Rain
Table of Contents
1. Onomatopoeias used for rain
2. What is Onomatopoeia?
3. Japanese Onomatopoeia for Describing Rain
4. Summary
5. Similar Articles
6. Comment
Q: There are so many onomatopoeic expressions used when it rains. I don’t really understand the differences.
A: Japanese has many onomatopoeic expressions that describe the way rain falls and the sound of rain.
In Japan, there is a season called “梅雨”, the rainy season, when rain continues for a long period of time in many areas except Hokkaido. It generally lasts from late May to around July.
During this season, there are many rainy days, so you often hear expressions related to rain in daily conversation and weather forecasts.
In this article, we will introduce Japanese onomatopoeic expressions that are commonly used to describe rain.
What is Onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia refers to words that express sounds or the state of something.
Japanese has a very large number of onomatopoeic expressions.
Also, Japanese onomatopoeia can express not only sounds, but also people’s feelings and the atmosphere of a situation.
For example, when describing rain:
“ぽつぽつ” expresses the feeling of rain starting to fall little by little.
“ざあざあ” expresses the feeling of heavy rain continuing.
“じとじと” expresses a damp, humid, and uncomfortable feeling.
When you become able to use onomatopoeia, your Japanese expressions will sound more natural.
However, many onomatopoeic expressions sound similar, so they may feel a little difficult for foreign learners of Japanese.
Now, let’s look at each rain-related onomatopoeic expression one by one.
Japanese Onomatopoeia for Describing Rain
[ぽつぽつ]
“ぽつぽつ” describes the way small raindrops fall little by little.
It is often used when rain has just started.
The rain is not strong yet.
Image: rain starting to fall, light rain falling only a little
[Examples]
雨がぽつぽつ降り始めました。
The rain has started to fall in small drops.
昼頃から雨がぽつぽつ降っています。
It has been raining lightly since around noon.
[ぱらぱら]
“ぱらぱら” describes the sound of small raindrops lightly hitting leaves, window glass, and other surfaces, or the way light rain falls.
Like “ぽつぽつ,” the rain is weak. However, “ぱらぱら” has a stronger image of raindrops lightly hitting something.
Image: light rain, drizzle, the sound of raindrops hitting something
[Examples]
窓ガラスに雨が当たる音がぱらぱらと聞こえます。
I can hear the light patter of rain on the window.
まだぱらぱら雨だから、今のうちに早く帰ろう。
It’s still just a light drizzle, so let’s hurry home while we can.
[ぽたぽた]
“ぽたぽた” describes the sound of raindrops or water drops falling continuously.
It is often used when water drips from a roof, tree branch, umbrella, puddle, and so on.
Compared to “ぽつぽつ” and “ぱらぱら,” the raindrops or water drops have a slightly larger image.
Image: the sound of water drops falling, slightly larger raindrops
[Examples]
屋根から雨がぽたぽたと落ちてきます。
Rain is dripping from the roof.
ぽたぽたと雨の音が聞こえます。
I can hear the sound of rain dripping.
[ざーっ]
“ざーっ” describes the way rain suddenly starts falling heavily.
It is especially used when strong rain suddenly begins to fall.
It is often used for rain that falls heavily for a short time, such as an evening shower.
Image: rain that suddenly falls heavily, rain that pours down all at once
[Examples]
突然、ざーっと雨が降り出しました。
Suddenly, it started pouring.
夕立がざーっと降ってきました。
A sudden evening shower came pouring down.
[ざあざあ]
“ざあざあ” describes the sound or state of heavy rain continuing to fall.
“ざーっ” is often used for the moment when rain suddenly starts falling, while “ざあざあ” is often used when heavy rain is continuing.
Image: heavy rain continuing, downpour
[Examples]
朝から雨がざあざあと降っています。
It has been raining heavily since morning.
ざあざあ降りの雨ですね。
It’s pouring outside, isn’t it?
[しとしと]
“しとしと” describes weak rain falling quietly for a long time.
The raindrops are small, and the sound is not very loud.
It does not have the image of heavy rain. Instead, it gives the image of calm, quiet rain.
It is also often used to describe rain during the rainy season.
Image: quiet rain, weak rain continuing for a long time
[Examples]
しとしとと小雨が降り続いています。
A light rain has been falling quietly.
何日かしとしと雨が続いています。
It has been drizzling quietly for several days.
[じとじと]
“じとじと” describes a damp, humid, and uncomfortable state rather than the sound of rain.
It is used when the rain continues and the air, clothes, inside of a room, and so on feel damp.
“しとしと” gives the image of quiet rain, but “じとじと” includes an uncomfortable feeling.
Image: humid, uncomfortable, damp
[Examples]
朝からじとじとと雨が降り続いています。
It has been raining damply since morning.
梅雨の時期は、じとじとした日が続きます。
During the rainy season, damp and humid days continue.
Summary
How was it?
In Japanese, even when describing the same action, “雨が降る,” you can use onomatopoeia to express the strength, sound, and atmosphere of the rain in detail.
By using these expressions properly, you can describe rainy days in more natural Japanese.
There is also a word for heavy rain: “土砂降り.”
This word describes rain falling very heavily. In Kansai, people sometimes say “じゃじゃ降り” instead.
These expressions may sound similar and feel difficult, but they are commonly used in weather forecasts and daily conversation.
When you want to describe the sound or state of rain, try using these onomatopoeic expressions.
Japanese onomatopoeia is so complicated. How can I memorize it?
Focus on learning them in context! Try using examples from daily conversations, manga, or anime to see how they are applied naturally. Practice and repetition will make them stick.
よく覚えます！
どれもよく似ていますが、がんばって覚えてください☺︎