What Is “Shito Shito”? The Japanese Sound of Gentle, Continuous Rain

Ever sat by the window on a quiet afternoon, hearing soft raindrops fall without pause?

Or walked under an umbrella, listening to the light, steady rhythm of rain on the ground?

That’s when the Japanese onomatopoeia “Shito Shito” comes in — a sound that captures the peaceful, continuous drizzle.

First, let’s listen to how it sounds!

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What is “Shito Shito” (しとしと) ?

Shito Shito” is a Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses light, steady, and continuous rain — the kind that falls quietly and gently, without thunder or heavy downpour.

It’s calm, delicate, and unhurried.
It often describes a soothing, almost meditative weather scene.

You’ll hear it in stories, weather descriptions, or poetic writing about rain.

Pronunciation

shee-toh shee-toh
(Say it softly, with a gentle rhythm — like rain brushing against leaves)

Categories

Sound / Atmosphere / Sound

What Does “Shito Shito” Look Like?

It looks like small ripples on a puddle.
Like leaves trembling lightly under raindrops.
Like a street shining faintly under grey skies.

How Do You Say It?

Say it quietly, with a calm, steady beat:
Shito… shito…

Like drops tapping gently on a windowpane:
Shito shito

Examples in Daily Life

Example 1: Rain outside the window

She sat with a book in hand,
the sound of rain filling the quiet room —
shito shito

Just for reference, in Japanese, this would be:
あめが、しとしとふっている。

Example 2: Walking in the drizzle

He strolled down the narrow street,
umbrella tilted slightly,
raindrops pattering softly —
shito shito…

Cultural Note

In English, we might say:

  • “It’s drizzling.”
  • “A light rain was falling.”
  • “The rain fell softly.”

But in Japanese, “shito shito” gives a sound-and-feel image — you almost hear the rain in your mind.
It conveys the quiet persistence of the weather, often with a gentle, emotional tone.

Watch & Feel the “Shito Shito” World!

Feel the “Shito Shito” — Gentle Rain

Experience the soft, lingering rain through a scene where everything slows down a little.
No rush. No storm. Just the rhythm of nature.

The world is quietly soaking.

Try Using It!

When rain is steady but light…
When you hear it tapping on your umbrella…
When the weather feels calm and reflective…

Say it softly:
Shito shito〜

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Naoboo
Welcome to this site — a soft and cozy space just for you.
Here, Japanese onomatopoeic expressions are collected — each one like a tiny, sound-flavored candy, a little piece of the world shared gently and playfully.

I hope you’ll find a favorite or two to carry with you.
Thank you for visiting.

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