{"id":1310,"date":"2025-08-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=1310"},"modified":"2026-02-23T18:28:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T09:28:58","slug":"what-is-biri-biri-the-japanese-sound-of-tearing-or-electric-shock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=1310","title":{"rendered":"What Is \u201cBiri Biri\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Tearing or Electric Shock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ever ripped a sheet of paper so fast that the sound filled the room?<br><br>Or touched a doorknob in winter and felt a sudden zap?<br><br>That\u2019s when the Japanese onomatopoeia <strong>\u201cBiri Biri\u201d<\/strong> (\u3073\u308a\u3073\u308a) comes in \u2014 a sound full of sharp, rapid, and sometimes shocking energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First things first \u2014 let\u2019s hear the sound!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3073\u308a\u3073\u308a.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is \u201cBiri Biri\u201d (\u3073\u308a\u3073\u308a)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<strong>Biri Biri<\/strong>\u201d is a Japanese onomatopoeia that expresses a sharp, crackling, or tearing sensation.<br>It can describe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The sound of paper or cloth being ripped apart<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The feeling of an electric shock or static electricity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even the tingling sensation of spiciness on your tongue<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a vivid word that works for <strong>both sounds and sensations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biribiri_extra.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biribiri_extra.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biribiri_extra-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biribiri_extra-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pronunciation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>bee-ree bee-ree<br>(Say it with a quick, snappy rhythm \u2014 like something tearing in an instant or electricity sparking)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sound \/ Condition<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-postLink\">\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard -internal\" data-type=\"type1\" data-onclick=\"clickLink\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__caption\">\u3042\u308f\u305b\u3066\u8aad\u307f\u305f\u3044<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__thumb c-postThumb\"><figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/buru_main-300x200.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"p-blogCard__title\" href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=234\">What Does \u201cBuru Buru\u201d Mean in Japanese? The Sound of Shivering and Trembling<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__excerpt\">When you&#8217;re freezing cold, scared out of your wits, or something is shaking with a buzz \u2014 the Japanese onomatopoeia \u201cBuru Buru\u201d (\u3076\u308b\u3076\u308b) might be just what&#8230;<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does \u201cBiri Biri\u201d Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lightning-shaped lines around something to show it\u2019s charged<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A jagged tear running through a sheet of paper<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sparks dancing in the air after a static zap<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"265\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biri_t.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1312\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-postLink\">\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard -internal\" data-type=\"type1\" data-onclick=\"clickLink\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__caption\">\u3042\u308f\u305b\u3066\u8aad\u307f\u305f\u3044<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__thumb c-postThumb\"><figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/piri_main-300x199.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"p-blogCard__title\" href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=4146\">What Is \u201cPiri!\u201d? The Japanese Sound of a Sharp Sting or Spicy Kick<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__excerpt\">Ever taken a bite of something just a bit too spicy \u2014 like wasabi or chili? Or touched something and felt a sudden zap, like static electricity? That\u2019s when &#8230;<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do You Say It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Say it fast and sharply:<br>Biri\u2026 biri\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the sound of tearing paper,<br>or the snap of static electricity:<br>Biri biri!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3073\u308a\u3073\u308a.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"jump-section\">Examples in Daily Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example 1: Ripping paper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>She grabbed the old envelope,<br>pulled it apart all at once \u2014<br><strong>biri biri\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biri_ex1.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"425\" height=\"283\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biribiri_1___.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biribiri_1___.png 425w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biribiri_1___-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In Japanese, this would be:<br>\u304b\u306e\u3058\u3087\u306f\u3001\u3044\u3063\u304d\u306b\u304b\u307f\u3092\u3073\u308a\u3073\u308a\u306b\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biri_ex1_jp.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example 2: Electric shock<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>She reached for the door handle,<br>and in a flash,<br>a tiny spark stung her fingers \u2014<br><strong>biri biri\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biri_ex2.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:60%; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DSgcdAXjAKY\"\n     target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n     aria-label=\"Watch this video on YouTube\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/DSgcdAXjAKY\/hqdefault.jpg\"\n         alt=\"Watch on YouTube\"\n         style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:10px;\">\n    <div style=\"position:absolute; top:50%; left:50%; transform:translate(-50%,-50%);\n                font-size:32px; color:white; background:rgba(0,0,0,0.6);\n                padding:8px 12px; border-radius:50%;\">\n      \u25b6\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n\n  <div style=\"margin-top:8px; font-weight:600;\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DSgcdAXjAKY\"\n       target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n       style=\"color:#78e2c8; text-decoration:none;\">\n      \u25b6 Watch on YouTube\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/transparent_x60_.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6043\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In Japanese, this would be:<br>\u3073\u308a\u3073\u308a\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biri_ex2_jp.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Note<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In English, we might say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cRip!\u201d \/ \u201cTear!\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cZap!\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cIt\u2019s tingling.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But \u201cbiri biri\u201d doesn\u2019t just describe <strong>the sound<\/strong> \u2014 it also conveys the <strong>feeling<\/strong> of that moment, whether it\u2019s tearing, stinging, or tingling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch &amp; Feel the \u201cBiri Biri\u201d World!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sound of Ripping Paper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Hear the sound of Biri Biri!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:60%; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc\"\n     target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n     aria-label=\"Watch this video on YouTube\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/RP4abiHdQpc\/hqdefault.jpg\"\n         alt=\"Watch on YouTube\"\n         style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:10px;\">\n    <div style=\"position:absolute; top:50%; left:50%; transform:translate(-50%,-50%);\n                font-size:32px; color:white; background:rgba(0,0,0,0.6);\n                padding:8px 12px; border-radius:50%;\">\n      \u25b6\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n\n  <div style=\"margin-top:8px; font-weight:600;\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc\"\n       target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n       style=\"color:#78e2c8; text-decoration:none;\">\n      \u25b6 Watch on YouTube\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Try Using It!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you tear something quickly\u2026<br>When static electricity zaps you\u2026<br>When spicy food makes your tongue tingle\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Say it with energy:<br>Biri biri\u301c\uff01<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-postLink\">\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard -internal\" data-type=\"type1\" data-onclick=\"clickLink\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__caption\">\u3042\u308f\u305b\u3066\u8aad\u307f\u305f\u3044<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__thumb c-postThumb\"><figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/goro_main-300x200.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"p-blogCard__title\" href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=1110\">What Is \u201cGoro Goro\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Thunder, Laziness, and Rolling Rocks<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__excerpt\">In Japanese, one word can express the roar of thunder, the laziness of a rainy day, and the rumble of tumbling boulders.That word is\u2026 \u201cGoro Goro\u201d (\u3054\u308d\u3054\u308d)&#8230;.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"5324\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>Explore Sound Candy Jar<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?page_id=431\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/jar.png\"\n       alt=\"sound jar\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4919\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-fullWide pc-py-60 sp-py-40 alignfull\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7\"><div class=\"swell-block-fullWide__inner l-article\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Sound-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=35\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_sound_enter___.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for sound-based category\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4936\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Condition-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=39\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_condiion_enter.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for condition-based category\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-button is-style-btn_normal\"><a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\" class=\"swell-block-button__link\"><span>Home<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever ripped a sheet of paper so fast that the sound filled the room? Or touched a doorknob in winter and felt a sudden zap? That\u2019s when the Japanese onomatopoeia \u201cBiri Biri\u201d (\u3073\u308a\u3073\u308a) comes in \u2014 a sound full of sharp, rapid, and sometimes shocking energy. First things first \u2014 let\u2019s hear the sound! What [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-_condition-based","category-_sound-based"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1310"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7055,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1310\/revisions\/7055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}