Go to Japanese and Yu*Yu*Hakusho Words Defined

P

pa(a) = light, shining (see also ka, po)

pachi = K-san: "A sharp, snappy sound." Can be click, crackle, clap, crack, etc. We've seen it used for opening eyes, bursting veins, clapping, and indeterminate ominous things happening.

paka = opening, separating. W-san: "A sound describing something opening in half. Like when Peachboy came out of his giant peach, the sound the peach made was 'paka.'"

paka = snap

paku = closing mouth on food, chomp (see also gapu)

paku paku = opening and closing mouth, eating, gobbling. This is where Pac-man came from! (see also hau, gatsu)

pan = sudden impact

pan pan = pat, pat or smack, smack, as of dusting hands (or oneself) off

pari = crunch, as in eating (see also bari, kori, pori)

pari pari = crackle, as of energy or electricity. Quieter than bari bari.  

parin = crash, clash  

pasa = rustling, e.g. cloth sliding, paper moving

pasha = splashing, as with the hand (see also pisha) For a big splash, see zabun.

pashi = impact: smack! click! (see also bashi, nashi)

pata pata = flap flap

patata = spatter spatter

patan = door slamming (see also batan)  

pechanko, peshanko = flattened, crushed

peko = bow

peko peko = bow over and over (grovel)

pero, pero pero = licking (see also bero)  

peron = rolling up or down, or flipping

petan, petanto = smooth, flat. Also, to flop down on the floor.  

pi = beep, peep, any other short high-pitched sound   

pi, picha, pichon = drip (see also po, pochan, pota)   

pichi = flap, bounce, snap (see also bichi)

piiii = shrill sound, beeper, telephone, whistle   

piii piii = chirp chirp   

piku, pikuri = blink, noticing something. May be from piku = twitch = pricking up the ears.

piku = twitch

pin pon = ding dong, bell (see also kin kon)   

piri = tearing, as in ripping cloth, opening a potato chip bag ) see also biri

piri piri = sharp sensation, as of pain, electricity, spiciness. Can be the sharpness or electricity of a glare.  

pisha = splashing, as with the hand (see also pasha) For a big splash, see zabun.

pishi = crack (as of a whip), smack (see also bishi)

pita = stopping

pito = gentle touch

piyo = peep

po, pochan, pota = drip, plunk. Pochan = kerplunk! (see also pi, picha, pichon, pochi)

po = flame, light. Can also be blushing. For other fire sounds see bo, gooo, guooo. Other light sounds include paa, kaa.

Po = Po's nom de plume. Has nothing to do with sound effects, and everything to do with Tinky Winky, Dipsy, and Laa Laa. <Panthea runs>

pochi pochi = something happening steadily, as in water dripping

poi = throwing or tossing something

poka = impact

pon = impact, fairly quiet

pon, pom = sound of magical transformation or appearance, often seen with a puff of smoke (see also bon, dororonpa)

pootto = dazed, obsessed

pori pori = eating, crunching, softer than 'bari bari.' K-san: "Pori pori is the quietest crunching. Pori pori is for cookies; bari bari is for chips. Kori kori is for broccoli and asparagus." (see also bari, kori, pari)  

poro, poto = dropping something, something rolling (see also koro, koron)

potsun = aloneness, separation

puchi puchi = pop pop, crackle crackle

puku, pukupuku = swelling, something swollen (see also buku)

pun pun = bad-smelling

pu pu pu, upupupu = yet another strange laugh (see also fu fu fu)

pura pura, puran = limp, floppy (see also hero, mero)  

puri puri = anger (see also puuu)

puru = shake, quiver (see also puri, furu)

pusu = puncturing, penetrating   

pusu pusu = the sound of something smoldering or smoking (see also busu busu)

puu = puff

puuuu = anger (see also puri puri)

puutto = snort, honk, toot (from a horn or any bodily orifice ^_^)

pyu = fast motion (see also byu, gyu, hyu)

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R

runtata = music. In this case, used for something Hiei-chan is humming. Run is a slow beat and tata quick beats. (see also bunchacha)   

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S

sa, saa = hissing, rain, water running (softer sound than zaa, which can also be rain)

sa, saaaa = rustling, wind

sa, sasa = quick motion

sa, saku = step

sara sara = smooth, light, dry

sasu sasu = rubbing   

sawa, sawayaka = cool, refreshing, something that makes you feel refreshed (see also suka)  

sesseto = working steadily

shaaa = something slicing through air: whishhh!  

shaka shaka = scrape scrape

shapu shapu = splash (see also zabun)

shiiin = the sound of staring, of silence, or of remaining frozen/ motionless. Often used in djs to indicate that a character is moved beyond words, stunned beyond words, or just generally beyond words. (see also jiiiin)

shiku shiku = sobbing, whimpering

shire = shrug (we think) Definitely a strange 'don't look at me' look.

shittori = moist. Also calm, soothing.

shizu = move solemnly

shobo shobo = sadness, moping

shu = quick movement, fabric rubbing, swish

shuuuu = fog, mist, steam

shubo = the sound of a flame igniting, e.g. lighting a lighter. (Maybe shu = quick movement/rubbing plus bo = light.)

shun = W-san: "This sound describes something wilting. It can be used for people, to describe being sad."

shuru, shururu, shurun = snaking motion. Often used for Rose Whip or other vines or tendrils snaking around.

sorya = what to yell as you attack; a fighting taunt or war cry. (see also dorya, ora, orya, uraa)

sosokusa = running away quickly, beating a hasty retreat  

sowa sowa = restless, fidgety (as in 'Ammari sowasowa shinaide!' (Don't get so fidgety!), the first line of 'Lum no Love Song')

su = breathe in (compare to fu, breathe out)

su = slow movement, e.g. cloth slowly slipping off, someone moving smoothly

sube sube = smooth

subu = see tsubu

sui = smooth movement, as of a good skater

suka = whooshy sound. K-san: "the sound of swinging a baseball bat and missing." Togashi frequently uses it for punches missing.  

suka = something sparse. K-san: "When you get a big box which is light for its size, and you shake it, and the packing material makes rustling sounds, that's suka suka. Or when you put on a big pair of jeans, you say 'These are suka suka (too big).'"  

suka, suya = sleeping (see also gu, ku, supigu)

suka, sukari, sukkiri, sukato = feeling of refreshment. K-san: "for example, when you drink a carbonated drink on a hot day." (see also sawa, sawayaka)

sukon = plunk, plonk

suku = getting up, standing up

sunari = slender, smooth, graceful (see also surari)

supa, supari = cutting or breaking something (see also zuba)

supigu = peaceful sleep, a whistling sound (see also gu, ku, suka, suya)

suppa suppa = puff puff

supo = pop? Anyway, the sound of tight something being pulled off (or pulled out), such as Hiei's boot coming off his foot, or an arrow coming out of Hiei-chan's head.

surari, surarito = long and straight, slim, slender (see also sunari)

suru = slow movement, e.g. cloth slowly slipping off....

suta = landing (as in after you've jumped)

sutatata = running  

suten = falling

sutetete = a little kid running fast  

suton = sit   

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 T

taaaaa = dashing, running (see also da, do do do, tatata) 

tappuri = full, stuffed

tatatata = running lightly

tehe = teehee, giggle

teka teka = shiny, smooth surface

teku teku = walking (see also to to to, toko toko)  

ten ten tenmari tentemari = traditional song to accompany bouncing a ball

tere = abashed. K-san: "Embarrassed in a happy way. Like when you're asked out on a date by somebody you like, you go 'tere.'"

to = quiet impact, e.g. a soft landing from a jump

to to to = walking (see also teku, toko)

to, ton, tonde = jumping

tobo tobo = dejected walking

toko toko = walking (see also teku teku)  

tokun = harder heartbeat (see also dokun)

ton = fairly quiet impact

tontonton = chopchopchop (as of food) or any other light continuous action (see also dondondon)

toppuri = night falling, the sun disappearing 

tote = toddle toddle (see also hote)

tsu = A small tsu on its own in a word balloon puzzled us for a while. We tried various things, but finally M.J. came up with what we think is the best solution. "I hear it as a slightly high-pitched 'uh' made by catching your breath in your throat." So from now on we're translating it as 'uh.'

tsu, su = rain

tsu, tsuuuu = bzzzzzzzz (insect sound)

tsubu = eyes (and only eyes) closing

tsun tsun = bad-smelling, stinky (see also pun pun)

tsuru, tsurun = sliding, also used for something smooth or slick

tsutsutsu, sususu = sliding

tsuya tsuya = shining, glowing (the way Kurama looks in the morning ^_^)

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U

u = ugh, urgh, ulp! A grunt or growl of surprise, pain, or anger.

uchu = kiss (see also buchu, chu, nchu)

ugogo = choking

uka uka, ukkari = daydreaming, not paying attention

ukkun = swallow, gulp (see also gokun, kokun)

umu = uh, uh-huh, hmm (see also fumu)

uni = the noise you make with your mouth when you're waking up

unsho = effort (see also nsho, yoisho)  

unzari = bored, fed up

uraaa, uryaaa = roar, war cry (see also dorya, ora, orya, sorya)  

ura ura = swaying

uto = nodding off     

utsura = half-asleep

uttori = enraptured by beauty

uuu = sound of anger: Urrgh!

uwaaaa! = exclamation: Auuugh!

uzo uzo = menace. A sound that evil creatures and nasty plants make. (see also gi gi and go go go)

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W

wa! = (a character saying it) Wow! Ack!

waa, waaa waaa = (a crowd's) excited roar (see also wai wai, wara wara)

wai = (a character saying it) feminine exclamation of delight. M.J. says of 'wai' and 'wai wai,' "Both are also kid's language for delight, is why female characters say it to be cute, I think."

wai wai = (as a background effect) noise, excitement, lots of people talking (see also wa, wara wara)

waku, waku waku = excitement. K-san: "Happy cute excitement."

wan wan = bow wow

wara wara = crowd noise (see also waa, wai wai)

wasa wasa = rustle rustle?

wata wata = flap flap

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Y

   yaho, yahoi = yoohoo! hey! hi!

yakimoki = fretting, worrying

yanwari = soft, gentle

yare-yare = one of the words/phrases we've left in the original. What you say when you're frustrated, exasperated, or giving up: Oh, well. What the heck. Good grief.

yoisho = effort (see also nsho, unsho)

yoji = the sound a cockroach makes when crawling up your back. May be related to jiri jiri, which is inching.

yoro, yororo = stagger, waddle, walk shakily   

yusa = shaking (something)  

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Z

za, za za za = footstep on grass, walking quickly or running through grass or bushes  

za = generic white noise sound, can be tv static, etc.

ZA! = strong, energetic movement.

za za, zaa zaaa = rustling, e.g., wind rustling in leaves, grass

zaa = rain (louder rain than saa)  

zaba, zabu, zabun = big splash (see also jabon, shapu, and bashan, picha, pisha for smaller splashes)

ZAKU! = cross between za and zoku?

zashu = lash, slash  

zawa = rustle. May be specific to plants, we've seen it used for trees and Kurama's power rising.  

zawa = crowd noise

      ze, zei = wheeze, gasp

zoku, zotto = chill or shiver (see also chiri)

zooon = rumbling, shaking

zu = drool or other liquid flowing

zu = sip, slurp (see also zuzu)

zu, zun = vigorous motion

zu(uu), zu(uu)n = disappointment, sadness. W-san: "It often describes things sinking, and can mean a sinking heart."

zuba, zubari = to slice or cut with a single blow (see also supa)

zugagaga, zugogogo = combination of vigorous action and menace? Anyway, loud drastic things happening.

zuki = sharp pain

zumo, zumomomo = menace, looming

zunguri = dumpy

zuri, zuriri, zuru = stagger when walking, or fall back in shock (see also gura)

zuru = sip, slurp (see also zuzu)

zuru = strong movement, more vigorous than 'suru'

zuru, zuru zuru = something heavy dragging or being pulled

zururu = slurp (see jururu)

zusasa = zu (vigorous) plus sasa (quick motion). We've seen it used for a quick scuttling recoil.

zuzu = sip (see also zuru)

If you can correct any mistakes we've made with these fx or words, or fill in info we're missing, please let us know! Or if you have a question, feel free to ask; we'll try to get it answered.

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