擬態語：カ行 – Sound Symbolism in Japanese

Sound symbolism in Japanese is very important. Unlike English and many other languages, you will soon realize that this is a special unique feature of the Japanese language.

Understanding Sound Symbolism in Japanese

 Sound Symbolism is a linguistic concept that sounds in words can have meaning.  The most common type of Sound Symbolism can be seen in Onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia are words for sounds. Japanese Onomatopoeia are known as 擬態語ぎたいご or 擬音語ぎおんご in Japanese.  

In English, a cat says meow and a dog, woof. That is about as far as English goes. Japanese however takes onomatopoeia to a new dimension.

https://japaneseuniverse.com/2024/02/18/pac-man-in-japaneseconcepts-behind-development-to-global-icon/

Sound Symbolism in Japanese has similar words that represent other senses such as sight, smell, touch, and so on. Words can also represent psychological states, moods, etc. Almost like the words have synesthesia. 

What does ‘k’ or ‘g’ mean in Japanese

Depending on where the k or g sound is located in the word, the meaning may change. However, usually it will usually mean something close to the following:

◆　Sudden Change or Stops
◆　Separation or Detachment
◆　Hard and Sharp

Sudden Change or Stops

k and g are words known as stops or plosives in linguistic terminology. Other examples of plosives are t, d, p, and b. These are sounds that are short and stop the airflow in your mouth. They also can not be held for any length of time.

You can test this by holding the sssssss sound and compare it to kkkkkkkkkkkk.

So, the k sound in Japanese Onomatopoeia often represents sudden stops, changes, or sudden movement.

ぐっと（引ひっ張ぱる）
give a strong quick pull

Separation or Detachment

k and g can also represent clear separation or detachment between different things.

くっきり
distinctly, clearly

きっぱり
decisively (making a clear cut decision)

Hard and Sharp

k and g can also represent properties of objects. Often when a 擬態語 word starts with k or g it will represent something that is hard or sharp such as metallic things. Words also often have these sounds in them to represent food texture:

かちかち
Something that is hard, ridged such as frozen foods or hard candies, or any other hard and stiff item.

がちがち
like かちかち and can be used for hard candies but is used more for hard-beady foods such as Senbei.

がりがり
Crunchy or graty foods are represented with がりがり, which is also the sound for scratching. Ice candies such as snow-cones are examples.

こりこり
Crisp and crunchy foods like chicken cartilage

Resources

• オノマトペの語形パターンに関する一考察
• 日本語の擬声語・擬態語における形態と意味の相関についての研究