God of Heroics: Comicman!

Fukidashi Manga has a speech bubble for a head, a quirk that turns sound effects into reality, and the unshakable belief that he will surpass God. When he enrolls at U.A. High School and lands in Class 1-B, the rest of the world is about to find out if he can live up to his ambition.

Chapter 1: Japanese onomatopoeia reference

Chapter Text

Category 1: Giseigo — Voices of the Living

Giseigo are sounds produced by living things. Human voices, animal calls, bodily noises. These are the closest equivalent to what English speakers think of when they hear the word "onomatopoeia."

Human Sounds

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Ha-ha-ha	Open laughter	Straightforward, natural laugh. The default.
Gera-gera	Loud, uncontrolled laughter	Belly-laugh territory. Loud enough to be obnoxious.
Kusu-kusu	Quiet snickering	Behind-the-hand laughter. Can be mocking or secretive.
Hiso-hiso	Whispering	Not just quiet talking; specifically conspiratorial, secretive whispering.
Waa-waa	Loud wailing or crying	Volume is the defining trait. Overwhelmingly loud distress.
Shiku-shiku	Soft sobbing	Quiet, sustained crying. Also describes a dull, persistent stomachache, that low grinding abdominal pain that doesn't spike but never lets up.
Goho-goho	Coughing	Harsh, repeated coughing. The kind that turns heads.
Hakushon	Sneezing	Explosive and short. Japan's version of "achoo."
Guu-guu	Snoring	Deep rhythmic breathing in sleep. Also describes a rumbling, empty stomach, the audible growl of hunger. Same sound, two very different sources.
Haa-haa	Heavy panting	Out of breath, overheated, or exerted. Carries a physical-effort connotation.
Goku-goku	Gulping, swallowing	The sound of drinking something fast, throat working.
Paku-paku	Mouth opening and closing	Think of a fish out of water, or someone eating enthusiastically. The inspiration behind Pac-Man's name.
Mogu-mogu	Chewing	Mouth full, working through food. Childish and endearing.
Gori-gori	Grinding teeth	Intense friction. Also means aggressively pushing forward through sheer stubbornness, and describes a hard, muscular physique. Three meanings, one aggressive energy.
Zuru-zuru	Slurping	Sustained, drawn-out suction. Socially acceptable in Japan when eating noodles. Also carries a secondary meaning of being slowly, reluctantly dragged into something you can't escape, procrastinating, sliding toward an outcome you didn't choose.
Ogyaa	Infant crying	The specific pitch and quality of a newborn's cry. Piercing and impossible to ignore.

Animal Sounds

Japanese animal sounds differ significantly from their English counterparts. A Japanese dog says "wan-wan," not "woof." A Japanese rooster says "kokekokkoo," not "cock-a-doodle-doo." These aren't random; they reflect genuine phonetic differences in how each language interprets the same biological sounds.

Romaji	Animal & Sound
Wan-wan	Dog barking
Nyaa-nyaa	Cat meowing
Gaoo	Lion or tiger roaring
Hihiin	Horse neighing
Moo-moo	Cow lowing
Shuu-shuu	Snake hissing
Bun-bun	Bee or insect buzzing
Kero-kero	Frog croaking
Kaa-kaa	Crow cawing
Gaa-gaa	Duck quacking
Hoo-hoo	Owl hooting
Mee-mee	Sheep or goat bleating
Chuu-chuu	Mouse squeaking
Kokekokkoo	Rooster crowing
Buu-buu	Pig oinking. Also means complaining, grumbling, whining in colloquial use.
Piyo-piyo	Chick chirping
Garururu	Feral growling or snarling. Not a specific animal; pure predatory threat sound.

Category 2: Giongo — Sounds of the Inanimate

Giongo cover everything that isn't alive: weather, impacts, machinery, materials breaking, water moving. These are the sound effects of the physical world.

Water and Liquid

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Zaa-zaa	Heavy rain pouring	Sustained, drenching downpour. Also means TV or radio static, white noise, that undifferentiated hiss that buries every other sound.
Shito-shito	Light drizzle	Fine, quiet rain. Atmospheric rather than aggressive.
Potsu-potsu	Rain beginning to fall	Scattered first drops. The warning before the storm.
Jaba-jaba	Splashing through water	Violent, messy water displacement.
Zabu-zabu	Wading through water	The heavy resistance of walking through waist-deep water.
Dobon	Large object falling into water	Deep, heavy splash. Something substantial just went under.
Pochan	Small thing dropped into water	Light, delicate splash. A coin, a pebble, a single drop.
Chapo-chapo	Water lapping, sloshing	Rhythmic, gentle wave action. Bathwater, a pond's edge.
Gobo-gobo	Bubbling, gurgling	Air forcing through liquid. Drowning sounds. Drain noises.
Sara-sara	Water flowing smoothly	Gentle, frictionless flow. A brook over stones. Also used for smooth textures like silk or fine hair.
Jaa-jaa	Water gushing from a pipe	High-pressure, high-volume flow. An open hydrant.
Picha-picha	Light splashing, dripping	Surface moisture. Puddle-stepping.
Choro-choro	Water trickling slowly	A faucet not fully closed. Water finding cracks.
Do-do-do	Rushing water rumble	Flash flood force, overwhelming volume and pressure. Also evokes the sound of a stampede, thundering footsteps of a charging mass.

Fire and Heat

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Pachi-pachi	Crackling fire	Sparks popping from a campfire. Also means clapping or applause, and the popping sound of bubble wrap. One word for three very different satisfying sounds.
Mera-mera	Flames flickering and blazing	Rising, growing fire. Also carries a strong emotional meaning: burning with jealousy, rage, or fighting spirit. The fire is literal or figurative depending on context.
Bou-bou	Roaring wildfire	Uncontrolled, spreading fire. Past the point of containment.
Juu-juu	Sizzling on a grill	Sustained contact heat. Meat on iron. Fat rendering.
Goo-goo	Roaring sound of fire or wind	A generalized roar of intensity. Not limited to fire; it can describe any overwhelming force sound. Functions as a raw amplifier of whatever phenomenon it's attached to.
Chiro-chiro	Small flame flickering	A candle. A match. A lighter's flame. Tiny and contained.
Yura-yura	Wavering, undulating flame	Heat haze. The visual distortion of hot air rising.

Wind and Air

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Byuu-byuu	Strong wind blowing	Sustained gale. The kind that pushes you sideways.
Hyuu-hyuu	Wind whistling through narrow gaps	The sound wind makes squeezing between buildings, through cracked windows, past helmet visors. Penetrating and cold.
Gou-gou	Fierce roaring gale	Storm-force wind. Structural-damage territory.
Soyo-soyo	Gentle breeze	Pleasant, light air movement. Cherry blossom weather.
Hyun	Sound of something slicing through air	A blade, a thrown object, anything cutting through space fast enough to make air scream.
Byuu	Sharp, fast air movement	Shorter, more violent than Hyun. A single projectile passing close.
Gooo	Deep sustained roar of wind	Tornado-level. The sound that precedes structural failure.

Thunder and Lightning

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Goro-goro	Thunder rolling	Deep, sustained rumble. This word has the most alternate meanings of almost any onomatopoeia: a cat purring, a heavy object rolling across a floor, a stomach growling with hunger, and someone lounging around lazily doing nothing. Five meanings, one word. Context is everything.
Bari-bari	Lightning crackling, tearing	Electrical discharge combined with a ripping, rending quality. Also means working at full power, going all-out, the word for someone operating at peak capacity with no restraint.
Doon	Thunderous boom	Wide-radius concussive impact. The big one.
Zudoon	Deep explosion or thunder	Even heavier than Doon. The voiced "zu" adds penetrating depth.
Bachi-bachi	Electrical sparking	Constant, aggressive electrical discharge. Arcing. Dangerous proximity to live current.
Bachi	Sharp electrical snap	A single jolt. Static shock amplified.
Piri-piri	Electrical tingling sensation	Low-voltage, continuous. Also means tense or on edge, nerve over-stimulation where all stimuli become overwhelming. Also describes the burning sensation of chili peppers on the tongue (capsaicin burn). Four meanings across three categories, all sharing that sharp, prickling quality.
Biri-biri	Electric shock sensation	Full shock. Involuntary muscle contraction. Also describes the sound and sensation of paper tearing, and the pins-and-needles of a numb limb waking up.
Ji-ji-ji	Buzzing electrical sound	Electromagnetic hum. Fluorescent lights. Overloaded circuits.

Earth and Seismic

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Dosu-dosu	Heavy footsteps thudding	Each step carries weight. Something big is walking.
Doka-doka	Heavy crashing, stomping	Repeated heavy impacts. More aggressive than Dosu-dosu.
Gara-gara	Crumbling, rumbling, collapsing	Structural collapse in progress. Also used for a rattle/shaker toy, and for "empty/vacant."
Go-go-go	Ominous low rumbling	Pressure building. Something is about to happen. Famous in manga (especially JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) as the visual/auditory signifier of menace.
Zushin	Heavy landing thud	A single, deep impact. Something just hit the ground hard.
Dokan	Explosive crash	Detonation-level impact.
Meki-meki	Structural cracking and creaking	Progressive failure. Also means "growing rapidly, improving by leaps." The sound of a tree growing through concrete and the sound of concrete losing to the tree.
Mishi-mishi	Creaking under weight	The warning sound before a floor gives way or a branch snaps.
Gishi-gishi	Creaking of floor or wood	Sustained stress on a surface. Old buildings, overloaded shelves, frozen lakes.
Zuun	Deep resonating thud	Bone-deep vibration. The impact you feel in your chest, not your ears.

Impact and Collision

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Don	Heavy thud or boom	The baseline impact word. Blunt, powerful, direct.
Gan	Hard metallic bang	Denser than Don. Metal on metal. Harder, less spread.
Gon	Dull bonk or knock	Blunt, non-lethal. Walking into a doorframe.
Ban	Loud bang	Close-range concussive force. A door slammed. A table struck.
Pan	Sharp pop or slap	Light, surprising rather than damaging. A balloon. A face slap.
Zudon	Deep heavy thud, gunshot	Penetrating impact. The voiced "zu" gives it a bullet-like quality.
Zugan	Powerful heavy impact	Armor-breaking force. Beyond what a body can absorb gracefully.
Dogan	Crashing impact	Wide-surface crushing. A wall falling on something.
Gatsun	Hard, heavy impact	The staggering blow. The one that makes teeth click and vision blur.
Doshin	Heavy body landing	The sound a person makes hitting the ground from height. Dead weight.
Gashan	Crashing and shattering	Impact plus fragmentation. Glass, ceramic, anything brittle meeting force.
Gochin	Head bonk	Focused impact to a small area. Usually the skull. Comedic or painful depending on intensity.
Bon	Pop or boom	Expanding pressure burst. Something contained suddenly isn't.
Dokkaan	Massive explosion	Maximum force. The biggest boom in the lexicon.
Baan	Large bang or explosion	Wide-radius blast. Less deep than Dokkaan, more spread.
Pon-pon	Bouncing, rebounding	Kinetic reflection. Impacts bounce back.
Pita	Sudden dead stop	All momentum arrested instantly. Complete cessation of movement.
Da	Sudden explosive start, a dash	Instant acceleration from zero. A sprinter off the blocks.

Cutting and Slicing

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Supa	Clean, precise cut	Single, perfect severance. No ragged edges.
Zuba	Powerful heavy slash	Forceful cutting. More mass behind the blade than Supa.
Saku	Cutting through soft material easily	Low resistance. A knife through ripe fruit.
Zaku	Cutting into firm material	Harder target. A shovel into packed earth.
Bassari	Wide sweeping cut	A horizontal arc. Also means "decisively, without hesitation" (to flatly refuse). The metaphorical cut is as clean as the physical one: severing ties, ending something completely, no half-measures.
Shuu	Swift slicing movement	So fast the cut is over before it registers. Also evokes the sound of something vanishing quickly, a swift clean exit, like a ninja disappearing.
Zuta-zuta	Torn to shreds	Multiple simultaneous cuts. Total destruction of form.

Breaking and Destruction

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Baki	Snapping, cracking	A single fracture. A joint bending the wrong way.
Boki	Snapping a bone or branch	Specifically bone-break quality. Dry, final.
Baki-baki	Repeated snapping and cracking	Multiple fracture points firing off in sequence.
Boki-boki	Multiple snapping	Full structural stress. Everything breaking at once.
Gusha	Crushing, squishing	Compression. Structure collapsing inward.
Gusha-gusha	Total crushing, crumpling	Complete structural failure. Nothing left to break.
Gucha	Squishy pulverizing	Beyond crushing. Soft-tissue territory. Wet and final.
Bara-bara	Falling apart into pieces	Not violent destruction; separation at connection points. Things coming undone. Also means scattered, separated, disorganized, a group split up and spread out.
Meki	A single crack	One targeted fracture. The first warning.
Pari-pari	Crispy, brittle	Fragile enough that one tap shatters it. Thin ice, dried leaves, overcooked pastry.
Kachi-kachi	Hard, frozen solid	Rigid and brittle from hardening. Frozen ground. Dried cement.

Pressure and Compression

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Gyuu	Tight squeeze	Sudden compression. Also the sound of hugging someone tightly, so the word carries both threat and tenderness depending entirely on who's doing the squeezing.
Gyuu-gyuu	Sustained tight squeezing	Prolonged, increasing constriction. A python's approach.
Gu	Forceful grip or push	Directional pressure. A hand closing on a collar.
Mugyu	Soft but firm squeezing	Enveloping compression. Suffocating without sharp edges.
Puchi	Small pop or burst	Something under strain finally giving. A bubble. A seam.
Pachin	Sharp snap or click	Stored tension released all at once. A mousetrap springing.
Gisshiri	Packed, crammed full	No room to breathe. Everything compressed into a fixed space.
Zusshiri	Feeling of immense weight	The sensation, not the sound. Holding something far heavier than expected.
Pechanko	Completely flattened	Two-dimensional compression. Crushed flat. A tin can under a boot.

Metal and Mechanical

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Kiin	High-pitched metallic ring	Frequency that targets the inner ear. Also describes the sharp pain of brain freeze (eating ice cream too fast) and the sound of a jet engine. Three meanings, all sharing that piercing, high-register quality.
Kan-kan	Metallic clanging, ringing	Resonant metal. A hammer on an anvil. Also means furiously angry, boiling with rage, and blazing direct sunlight. The word for hot sun and hot temper is the same word.
Kin-kin	High-pitched metallic screeching	Painful frequency. Also means ice-cold, piercing cold. The same word describes sounds and temperatures that make you wince.
Gacha-gacha	Clattering, rattling	Mechanical parts shaking loose. Also the name for capsule toy machines.
Gari-gari	Scraping, grating	Friction damage. Nails on a surface. Also the name of a popular Japanese ice pop brand.
Gi-gi-gi	Metal grinding, screeching	High-intensity friction between hard surfaces. Sparks and screaming metal.
Buun	Humming, buzzing of an engine	Vibration at mechanical frequency. Also the sound of something flying through the air at speed, a thrown object, a bug zooming past.
Kata-kata	Light rattling	Fine vibration. A keyboard. A window in wind. Delicate mechanisms shaking.
Wiin	Machine whirring	Mechanical motion. Servos, motors, something spinning up.
Gachi-gachi	Stiff, locked up, frozen with tension	Full body rigidity. Muscles refusing to cooperate.

Category 3: Gitaigo — States Without Sound

This is where Japanese onomatopoeia departs from anything English does well. Gitaigo describe physical states, conditions, textures, and appearances. They are "sound words" for things that make no sound at all. A fluffy pillow is fuwa-fuwa. A sticky surface is neba-neba. There is no actual audio involved; the word captures the sensation itself.

Tactile and Surface States

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Fuwa-fuwa	Soft, light, floating, fluffy	A cloud. A cotton ball. Weightlessness itself. Also means airheaded, unfocused, spacey, someone mentally ungrounded, drifting through life without traction.
Fuka-fuka	Soft and springy	Specifically the kind of softness that pushes back. A fresh mattress. A new pillow.
Funya-funya	Limp, floppy, yielding	Structural integrity gone. A cooked noodle. A deflated balloon.
Puyo-puyo	Jiggly, squishy	Unstable form. Gelatin. Body fat. Things that deform on contact and wobble back.
Neba-neba	Sticky, viscous, gooey	Natto. Okra slime. Anything that strings when you pull it apart. Also means persistent, tenacious, refusing to give up, from the verb nebaru (to endure, to hang in there). The word for stickiness and the word for stubbornness are the same.
Beto-beto	Adhesive, sticky to touch	Worse than neba-neba. Sweat on a humid day. Spilled soda on a counter. You can't get it off your hands.
Nuru-nuru	Slippery, slimy	Zero friction. An eel. A wet tile floor. The complete absence of grip.
Tsuru-tsuru	Smooth, slippery surface	Polished. Ice. Waxed floors. Slippery but clean, not slimy.
Zara-zara	Rough, gritty texture	Sandpaper. Unfinished concrete. Stubble on a jaw.
Gotsu-gotsu	Rough, jagged, rocky	Larger scale than zara-zara. Boulders. Craggy cliff faces. Knuckles.
Toge-toge	Spiky, thorny	Barbed. Cactus. Rose stems. Anything that punishes contact.
Boko-boko	Bumpy, beaten up	The surface condition of something that has taken repeated impacts. Also means beating someone thoroughly. The word describes both the action and the result.
Deko-boko	Uneven, bumpy terrain	An unpaved road. A cobblestone path gone wrong. Unstable footing.
Suka-suka	Hollow, empty, sparse	Structural emptiness. A cheap wall. A dried-out sponge. No density inside.
Mochi-mochi	Springy, elastic, chewy like mochi	Absorption and rebound. Impacts sink in and bounce back. The texture of fresh mochi, udon noodles, and good bread dough.
Pera-pera	Paper-thin, flimsy	Reduced to nothing. Also means speaking fluently in a foreign language, where the "thinness" becomes the effortless, flowing quality of speech without hesitation.

Stability and Motion States

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Gata-gata	Shaky, rattling, falling apart	Structural instability. Also means complaining, making a fuss, talking back. The word for a thing falling apart and the word for a person being annoying about it are identical.
Gura-gura	Wobbly, unstable, about to topple	A table with uneven legs. A building in an earthquake. A person who can't keep their feet.
Fura-fura	Dizzy, unsteady, wavering	The result of spinning, drinking, blood loss, or heat. Also means wandering aimlessly without purpose or direction, drifting without a destination.
Yura-yura	Swaying gently	A pendulum. A hammock. Seaweed in current. Gentle, rhythmic motion.
Guru-guru	Spinning, rotating, swirling	Full rotation. Tornado. Washing machine. Eyes after a blow to the head.
Kuru-kuru	Spinning, twirling	Lighter, more playful than guru-guru. A dancer. A pinwheel. A spinning top.
Buru-buru	Shivering, trembling	Cold-induced or fear-induced shaking. Involuntary and sustained.
Puru-puru	Jelly-like wobbling	Soft trembling. Pudding on a plate. Lips before crying.
Gunya-gunya	Twisted, warped, bendy	Shape completely distorted. A fun-house mirror. A pretzel. Something that should be straight but isn't.
Yore-yore	Worn out, crumpled, wilting	The state of something that has seen too much use. A shirt worn a hundred times. A person who has been working for thirty hours.

Temperature and Sensation States

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Hiri-hiri	Stinging, burning skin sensation	Sunburn. Antiseptic on a cut. Raw, exposed nerve endings.
Zuki-zuki	Throbbing pain	Pulsing, rhythmic pain. Headaches. Infected wounds. Pain that has a heartbeat.
Chiku-chiku	Pricking, stinging sensation	Needles. Wool against sensitive skin. Full-body pins and needles.
Jin-jin	Tingling, numbing sensation	A limb falling asleep. The numb buzz after hitting your elbow. Sensation fading to static.
Shiin	Cold silence, utter stillness	The sound of silence itself. Japanese gave silence its own onomatopoeia. Used in manga to indicate a dead-quiet room, an awkward pause, or the moment after a bad joke lands on nothing.
Hinyari	Cool, cold feeling	A pleasant or startling chill. Touching cold metal. Walking into an air-conditioned room.
Poka-poka	Warm, cozy feeling	Sunlight on your back. A heated blanket. Gentle, pervasive warmth. Also means hitting someone repeatedly with light, playful blows. The same word describes being gently warmed and being gently beaten.
Mun-mun	Humid, stuffy, oppressively hot	Summer in Tokyo. A crowded train in August. Heat that sits on your chest.
Jime-jime	Damp, humid, muggy	Persistent moisture in everything. Also describes a gloomy, depressing atmosphere or personality. A damp mood for a damp room.
Kara-kara	Completely dry, parched	Zero moisture. Cracked lips. Desert air. Also means empty, hollow, the sound of something light and dry rattling inside something that should be full.
Kin-kin	Ice-cold, piercing cold	Extreme cold. Beer straight from the freezer. The kind of cold that hurts. (Also appears under Metal for the screeching sound.)

Fluid and Material States

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Doro-doro	Muddy, gooey, thick viscous	Swamp. Melted chocolate. Anything you sink into. Also describes messy, ugly interpersonal situations (a complicated, toxic relationship) and, separately, a drumroll sound.
Toro-toro	Thick, syrupy, slow-flowing	Honey. Molten cheese. Slow and luxurious in cooking; oppressive in other contexts. Also means drowsy, half-asleep, and describes materials softening or melting like heated wax.
Sara-sara	Smooth, silky, free-flowing	Appears in both water and texture categories. Frictionless and clean. Dry sand running through fingers. Fine hair in a shampoo commercial.
Futsu-futsu	Slowly bubbling up	The first signs of a boil. Also: emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Gutsu-gutsu	Vigorously boiling	Full rolling boil. A stew at maximum heat.
Pan-pan	Swollen, stretched to bursting	Overfilled. A balloon about to pop. A stomach after a feast.
Kachin	Snap-freeze, solidify on contact	Instant hardening. Liquid becoming solid in a moment.

Light and Visual States

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Pika-pika	Flashing brightly, sparkling	Bright, clean light. Also means brand new, polished, spotless. Cleaning something until it's pika-pika means making it look like it just came out of the box. The inspiration behind Pikachu's name.
Kira-kira	Glittering, twinkling	Stars. Jewelry. Eyes full of hope and dreams. Also describes someone whose eyes are bright with youthful enthusiasm and possibility.
Chika-chika	Rapid flickering	Strobe effect. A dying fluorescent tube. Visually aggressive.
Gira-gira	Harsh, glaring brightness	Searing, painful light. The summer sun at noon reflecting off concrete. Also describes burning ambition, hungry intensity. The glare of the sun and the glare of someone who wants something badly.
Bonyari	Dim, hazy, vague	Fog. A shape you can't quite make out. Also describes being absentminded, zoned out, mentally unfocused. The visual and the mental are the same blur.

Category 4: Giyougo — Movement Made Audible

Giyougo capture the quality and character of physical movement. How fast, how heavy, how graceful, how clumsy. They are the words manga uses to make still images feel like they're moving.

Speed and Movement

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Byun-byun	Fast repeated whizzing	Multiple objects flying past at speed. Arrows. Thrown knives. Cars on a highway.
Byuun	Fast zooming, streaking	A single object at high velocity. A bullet train. A thrown baseball.
Hyuu	Swift, sharp movement	Instantaneous. Over before you can track it.
Suuu	Smooth gliding movement	Frictionless motion. Sliding doors. A skater on fresh ice.
Noro-noro	Sluggish, slow movement	Frustratingly slow. Traffic during rush hour. A turtle's pace by choice.
Mota-mota	Fumbling, sluggish	Not just slow but clumsy. Dropping things. Missing buttons. Reduced dexterity and coordination.
Yota-yota	Staggering, wobbling	Drunk-walk. Post-concussion movement. Can't hold a straight line.
Zusaa	Skidding, sliding	Forced horizontal movement. Braking on gravel. Being pushed across a floor.
Teku-teku	Steady walking	Regular, unhurried footsteps. A commute. A walk to the store. Nothing dramatic.

Falling and Collapse

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Dotan	Falling with a heavy thud	Full-body impact with the ground.
Batan	Slamming flat, falling over	Face-first collapse. Also the sound of a door slamming shut. The same word for falling on your face and shutting a door; both are sudden, flat, and final.
Dosa	Falling with a heavy thump	Dead-weight drop. The sound a body makes when it stops trying to stand.
Gakun	Sudden collapse, lurch	The knees-buckling moment. Legs giving out without warning.
Guttari	Going completely limp	Total body shutdown. All muscle tension gone. Ragdoll physics.
Suton	Dropping quietly and suddenly	Quiet, clean, unexpected fall. No warning, no drama, just gone.

Grabbing and Binding

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Gasshi	Firm grab	Restraint. A hand closing on a wrist that isn't getting free.
Gacchiri	Solid, firm grip	Immovable. Also means solidly built, sturdy, reliable, describing a person's physical frame or a well-constructed object.
Gui	Firm pull or push	Directional force. Yanked forward. Shoved sideways.
Guuu	Slow stretching or pulling	Sustained draw. A rubber band being stretched to its limit. A gravity well's patient pull.

Stretching and Deformation

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Gunya	Bending, warping	Shape deformation. A spoon bending. A rail curving.
Nobi-nobi	Stretching freely	Extension without resistance. Also means relaxed, at ease, growing freely without restriction. A child raised nobi-nobi is raised without being stifled, given room to become what they'll become.

Category 5: Gijougo — The Sound of Feeling

The most abstract and arguably the most powerful category. Gijougo describe emotional and psychological states. Fear has a sound. Anxiety has a sound. The feeling of being deeply moved has a sound. These words give vocabulary to internal experiences that English handles with adjectives and metaphors, but Japanese handles with direct onomatopoeia.

Anxiety and Fear

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Doki-doki	Heart racing, pounding	The heartbeat you can hear. Fear, excitement, romantic tension, all share this word. Also describes romantic butterflies, the flutter of a crush. Whether you're in love or in danger, your heart sounds the same.
Hara-hara	Nervousness, on edge	Watching something precarious. A movie where the character might fall. Sustained, unresolvable tension.
Biku-biku	Jumpy, flinching, timid	Startling at every stimulus. Living in a flinch.
Odo-odo	Nervous, flustered, timid	Hesitation in every action. Can't commit. Can't decide. Everything feels wrong.
Gaku-gaku	Trembling with fear	Involuntary shaking from terror. Can't hold anything steady.
Zawa-zawa	Unease spreading	An instinctive, sourceless dread. The feeling that something is very wrong before you know what. Also the rustling sound of leaves or a murmuring crowd. Famous from the manga Kaiji as the visual representation of creeping anxiety.
Zoku-zoku	Chilling shiver down the spine	Primal response. Freeze instinct. Also means thrilling excitement, the shiver of anticipation before something amazing. Fear and thrill are the same shiver; only context separates them.
Zo	Sudden chill of horror	A single, instantaneous spike of dread. One moment of pure "something is behind me."
Hiya-hiya	Cold-sweat nervousness	Paranoia. Acting as if death is one wrong step away.
Zowa-zowa	Skin crawling, goosebumps	Revulsion. The body recoiling from something it senses but can't see.

Anger and Frustration

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Ira-ira	Burning irritation, frustration	Patience grinding to nothing. The target snaps, acts impulsively, abandons strategy.
Ka	Sudden flare of rage	Instant, uncontrolled burst. A single moment of seeing red.
Mukii	Furious indignation	Tunnel vision from anger. Fixates on the source, ignores everything else.
Pun-pun	Fuming, visibly angry	Sustained, obvious anger that clouds judgment over time. The kind everyone in the room can read.

Disorientation and Confusion

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Boo	Spaced out, dazed, zoned out	Completely checked out. Staring at nothing. Lights on, nobody home.
Kura-kura	Dizzy, lightheaded	The room spins. Blood pressure drop. Standing up too fast.
Guru-guru	Spinning, dizzy	Full rotational disorientation. Worse than kura-kura. The whole world won't stop turning.
Boke	Blank, out of it	Sudden mental void. Mid-sentence, mid-action, just... empty.
Moya-moya	Nagging unease, mental fog	Something is wrong and you can't identify what. Distinct from bonyari's vague haziness; this is the specific torture of almost-knowing.

Pain and Physical Distress

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Kiri-kiri	Sharp stabbing pain, tension	Acute pain spike. The kind that stops all movement and thought.
Muka-muka	Nausea, sick feeling	The stomach turning. The moment before vomiting.
Heto-heto	Completely worn out, exhausted	The body has nothing left. Muscles refuse. Willpower is irrelevant because the tank is empty.
Daru-daru	Heavy, lethargic, sluggish	Weighted down with fatigue. Every movement costs more energy than it should.
Doku-doku	Blood pulsing, gushing	The heartbeat made visible through an open wound. Blood pressure you can see.
Muzu-muzu	Unbearable itching, restless sensation	Can't stop fidgeting. Can't focus on anything else. The itch consumes all attention.

Positive Emotions and Energy

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Waku-waku	Excited, eager, thrilled	Anticipation overload. Christmas Eve for a child. Also, when unchecked, the recklessness of excitement replacing judgment.
Uki-uki	Light, giddy, happy	Carefree buoyancy. The weight of worry lifted. Walking on air.
Niko-niko	Warm smiling, radiating friendliness	A genuine, sustained smile. The kind that makes other people feel safer.
Pin-pin	Lively, energetic, in good health	Vitality radiating from every pore. The word for someone operating at full biological capacity.
Ho	A sigh of relief	Tension draining away. Heart rate normalizing. The crisis is over, and the body knows it.

Alertness and Energy States

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Shakki	Sharp, alert, snapping to attention	Sudden clarity. Cold water on the face. Every sense sharpened at once.
Sukkiri	Clear-headed, refreshed	Mental reset. Fog cleared. Specifically targets mental clutter: confusion, daze, panic, all wiped clean.
Sappari	Clean, refreshed, wiped clear	The full-body version of sukkiri. Everything is stripped. Fatigue, pain, confusion, all of it gone. The word literally means "completely refreshed."
Kiri	Sharp-eyed, resolved	Focus locked in. Reaction time sharpened. Awareness heightened. Ready.
Uttori	Entranced, enraptured	Lost in beauty or pleasure. Unresponsive to the outside world because the inside is too captivating.

Lethargy and Shutdown States

Romaji	Meaning	Notes
Shonbori	Dejected, crestfallen	The posture of defeat. Shoulders dropped. Eyes down. No will to continue.
Uji-uji	Hesitant, gloomy, brooding	Can't commit to any action. Paralyzed by indecision and self-doubt.
Shimijimi	Deep melancholy, moved emotionally	Involuntary grief or profound feeling. The kind of emotion that comes over you without permission.
Jiin	Deeply touched, moved to tears	Emotional overwhelm in its purest form. The moment a person breaks, not from pain, but from being moved too deeply to hold it together.

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