Rainy Season and  Onomatopoeia

JAPANese Q&A Casual Conversation | 梅雨とオノマトペ

Rainy Season and Onomatopoeia

Tom: What does “tsuyu” mean? Miho: It is the rainy season that lasts from June to July. Tom: How do you write it in kanji? Miho: You would write ume (plum) and ame(rain). I have heard that this is because it’s the season in which plums ripen. Tom: There are many onomatopoeic words in Japanese, what onomatopoeic terms are commonly used for rain? Miho: When rain starts to fall, we say“potsuripotsuri.” Tom: Is this any different from “shitoshito”? Miho: That means that a light rain continues to fall. Tom: Then, how about heavy rain? Miho: That’s “za-za-.” Miho: People say “pichapicha” when the rain is falling so hard that it rebounds off the pavement. Tom: What do you say for the English phrase “raining cats and dogs”? Miho: You could say “doshaburi.” If your clothes become soaked because of this, you might say, “my clothes are ‘bishobisho.’ ” Tom: I’ve noticed many people using transparent umbrellas in Japan. Miho: Ah, you’re referring to plastic umbrellas, aren’t you? They are cheap, and so many people don’t go back to a place to collect them if they’ve forgotten them. Tom: I also see many people using small umbrellas. Miho: I think you are referring to foldable umbrellas. These are fairly useful in light rain. I also carry one in my bag when it looks like it will rain.

トムとむ
tomu
Tom
「つゆ」って
tsuyu tte
tsuyu
どういう
douiu
what
意味いみ
imi
does mean ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
6月ろくがつ
rokugatsu
June
から
kara
from
7月しちがつ
shichigatsu
July
ni
to
かけての
kakete no
(that) lasts
あめおお
amega ooi
rainy
季節きせつ
kisetsu
(the) season
のこと。
nokoto.
(it) is
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
漢字かんじ
kannji
kanji
de
in
どう
dou
how
くの?
kakuno
do (you) write (it) ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
うめ
ume
ume (plum)
ni
and
あめ
ame to
ame (rain)
くの。
kaku no
(you) would write
うめ
ume ga
(in which) plums
じゅく
jyukusu
ripen
季節きせつ
kisetsu
(it’s the) season
だから
dakara
(this is) because
だって
datte
that
いたことある。
kiitakoto aru.
(I) have heard
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
には
niha
in
たくさん
takusann
many
オノマトペおのまとぺ
onomatope ga
onomatopoeic (words)
あるけど、
arukedo,
there are
あめ
ame
rain
de
for
よく
yoku
commonly
使つかわれる
tsukawareru
are used
のは?
noha
what (onomatopoeic terms)
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
すこはじめた
sukoshi furi hajimeta
rain starts to fall
ときは、
tokiha,
when
「ぽつりぽつり」って
potsuri potsuri tte
potsuripotsuri
いう。
iu.
(we) say
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
「しとしと」
shito shito
shitoshito
to
from
ちがうの?
chigau no
(is this) any different
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
それは
soreha
that
小雨こさめ
kosame ga
(a) light rain
furi
to fall
つづけている
tsuzuketeiru
continues
ようすね。
yousu ne.
means (that)
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
じゃあ、
jyaa,
then
はげしく
hageshiku furu
heavy
あめ
ame
rain
は?
ha
how about
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
それは
soreha
that
「ざーざー」
za-za-
za-za-
だね。
dane.
is
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
あめ
ame ga
(the) rain
はげしく
hageshiku furu
is falling so hard
とき
toki
when
道路どうろ
douro de
(the) pavement
かえ
hanekaeru
(it) rebounds off
ことを
koto wo
that
「ぴちゃぴちゃ」
picha picha
pichapicha
っていうよ。
tte iuyo.
(people) say
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
英語えいご
eigo
(the) English (phrase)
no
for
キャッツきゃっつアンドあんどドッグズどっぐず
Cats and Dogs
cats and dogs
のような
noyouna
[like]
あめ
ame ha
raining
なんていうの?
nannte iuno
what do you say ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
土砂降どしゃぶ」り。
doshaburi.
(you could say) doshaburi
それで
sorede
because of this
すごくぬれた
sugoku nureta
(your clothes) become soaked
ときは、
tokiha,
if <when>
ふく
fukuga
(my) clothes are
『びしょびしょ』になった」
bisho bisho ni natta
bishobisho
っていう。
tteiu.
(you) might say
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
日本にほん
nihonn
Japan
では、
deha,
in
透明とうめいかさ
toumei no kasa wo
transparent umbrellas
っている
motteiru
using <have>
ひと
hito ga
people
おおいね。
ooi ne.
(I)’ve noticed many
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
ああ、
aa,
ah
ビニール傘びにーるがさ
bini-rugasa no
plastic umbrellas
ことね。
kotone.
(you) re referring to aren’t you?
やすいから
yasui kara
(they) are cheap and
わすれた
okiwasureta
(if they’ve) forgotten (them)
場所ばしょ
basho
(a) place
ni
to
りにかない
torini ikanai
don’t go back to collect (them)
ひと
hito ga
people
おおい。
ooi.
so many
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
ちいさいかさ
chiisai kasa wo
small umbrellas
さしている
sashiteiru
using
ひと
hito
people
mo
also
おおいね。
ooine.
(I) see many
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
りたたみがさ
oritatamigasa no
foldable umbrellas
ことね。
kotone.
(I) think (you) are referring to
小降こぶりの
koburino
light rain
ときは、
tokiha,
in
それで十分じゅうぶんだから。
sorede jyuubunn dakara.
(these) are fairly useful
あめ
amega furi
(it) will (rain)
そうな
souna
(it) looks like
ときは
tokiha
when
わたし
watashi
I
mo
also
バッグばっぐ
baggu ni
(my) bag
れて
irete
in
っていく。
motteiku.
carry (one)

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