Ever heard a chair scrape suddenly?
Or a shelf wobble and make a sharp noise?
In Japanese, that unexpected, jolting sound is called “Gata!” (がたっ) —
a single, crisp sound of something shifting, shaking, or falling slightly out of place.
Let’s listen to it:
What is “Gata” (がたっ)?
“Gata” is the sound of:
- A chair leg catching on the floor
- A box shifting on a shelf
- Something bumping, wobbling, or sliding slightly
Gata is a sharp, jarring sound of movement, not destruction.
Pronunciation
ga-ta (っ)
(Say it sharply — with a little jump at the end.)
Categories
Sound
What Does “Gata” Look Like?
It looks like a chair pushed back suddenly.
A door frame creaking under weight.
A startled noise in a quiet room.
How Do You Say It?
Say it like a sudden bump:
Gata!
The small pause from the “っ” gives it punch.
Examples in Daily Life
Example 1: Wobbling chair
As she stood up,
the chair made a sudden gata!
Example 2: Loose shelf
The earthquake made the bookshelf shift —
gata!
Cultural Note
In English, you might say:
- “Clunk”
- “Rattle”
- “Thump”
But gata is short, sudden, and unmistakably Japanese.
It conveys minor chaos — enough to make you turn your head.
Used in manga and anime when someone suddenly reacts or when the environment suddenly shifts.
Watch & Feel the “Gata” World!
Feel the “Gata” — Earthquake
Try Using It!
Next time a chair scrapes,
or something moves out of place…
Say it sharply:
Gata!
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