When It Rains, It Pours

Depending on where you live, you might be experiencing a very wet season this time of the year. Different types of rain of course sound differently. Some might find it difficult to express sounds with language, but the Japanese are very used to it with their plethora of onomatopoeia. Can you guess just by the impression you get which words correspond to what kind of rain? Which onomatopoeia describe a downpour, and which just a drizzle?

ざーざー (zaa zaa)

ぽつぽつ (potsu potsu)

ぼたぼた (bota bota)

ぱらぱら (para para)

しとしと (shito shito)

The answers are:

ざーざー (zaa zaa) – it is raining heavily

ぽつぽつ (potsu potsu) – it is just starting to rain with sporadic drops

ぼたぼた (bota bota) – it is raining with big heavy raindrops

ぱらぱら (para para) – it is raining slightly, just a little more than with potsu potsu

しとしと (shito shito) – it is raining gently

Written by AL