Japanese Language Reduplicatives


In no particular order, here are some further Japanese reduplicatives I've noticed lately.   I guess this list will grow in fits and starts - but if you know any further words which should be here, please email me.

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bochi bochi little-by-little
shito shito gently
zaa zaa rushing water / white noise
para para drops / sprinkling / flipping pages
kira kira twinkle glitter
kara kara parched / dried up
pota pota dripping water
guu guu snoring / fast asleep
zawa zawa noisy / people talking
jiro jiro staringly / scrutinizing
koro koro small and round thing rolling,
high-pitched sound,
something that changes
piri piri tingly / sting / burning tongue / becoming tense
dan dan gradually / by degrees
goshi goshi scrubbing / rubbing briskly
uki uki cheerful
iki iki vividly, lively
bata bata rattling / clattering
tara tara pouring liquid / prevaricating / slugglishly, endlessly
guzu guzu tardily / complaining
kotsu kotsu unflaggingly, steadily, untiringly
goku goku extremely / highly
moku moku mumbling
shiku shiku to sob / to weep
zoku zoku shiver / thrill / shudder
zoro zoro in groups, in succession
tsuru tsuru slipperly, smooth
zara zara feeling rough
hiso hiso whisperingly
sara sara rustlingly, fluently, silky hair
gun gun steadily
sowa sowa fidgety / restless / nervous
gan gan large bell / headache / intense
wan wan crying / bow-wow

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