{"id":4548,"date":"2026-01-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=4548"},"modified":"2025-12-31T16:06:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T07:06:22","slug":"what-is-bikkuri-the-japanese-sound-of-surprise-almost-onomatopoeia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=4548","title":{"rendered":"What Is \u201cBikkuri\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Surprise \u2014 Almost Onomatopoeia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ever turned around and suddenly saw someone standing right behind you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or heard a loud noise that made your heart jump?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s when the Japanese word \u201cBikkuri\u201d comes in \u2014 a common, emotional reaction word meaning \u201csurprised!\u201d<br>Even though it sounds like an onomatopoeia, <strong>it\u2019s not officially categorized as one<\/strong> \u2014 it\u2019s an <em>almost onomatopoeia<\/em>, mimicking a startled response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we dive in, hear what it sounds like!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3073\u3063\u304f\u308a.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is \u201cBikkuri\u201d (\u3073\u3063\u304f\u308a)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBikkuri\u201d expresses a reaction of sudden surprise or shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s used when you\u2019re startled \u2014 emotionally or physically \u2014 by something unexpected.<br>Unlike true sound-symbolic words, \u201c<strong>bikkuri<\/strong>\u201d behaves like a <strong>verbal noun<\/strong>:<br>e.g. <em><strong>bikkuri suru<\/strong><\/em> (to be surprised).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pronunciation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>bik-ku-ri<\/strong><br>(A quick \u201cbi!\u201d and a soft ending \u2014 like the jump in your chest when surprised.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Emotion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does \u201cBikkuri\u201d Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It looks like wide-open eyes.<br>A jump backward.<br>A gasp \u2014 or a freeze \u2014 when caught off guard.<\/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\/12\/bikkuri_t.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4550\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do You Say It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Say it with a little breath of shock:<br><strong>Bikkuri shita!<\/strong><br>\u201cI was surprised!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or softly to yourself:<br><strong>Bikkuri\u2026<\/strong><br>(\u201cOh wow\u2026\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u3073\u3063\u304f\u308a.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Examples in Daily Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example 1: Surprise encounter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>He turned around \u2014<br>and someone was standing right there!<br><strong>Bikkuri shita\u2026!<\/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\/12\/bikkuri_1.png\" alt=\"illustration of sound word, bikkuri, \u3073\u3063\u304f\u308a\" class=\"wp-image-4615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bikkuri_1.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bikkuri_1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bikkuri_1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example 2: Unexpected result<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>She opened the envelope<br>and found she\u2019d won the prize!<br><strong>Bikkuri!<\/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\/12\/bikkuri_2.png\" alt=\"illustration of sound word, bikkuri, \u3073\u3063\u304f\u308a\" class=\"wp-image-4616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bikkuri_2.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bikkuri_2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bikkuri_2-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Note<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike the short shock-like \u201c<strong>Biku<\/strong>!\u201d (which <em>is<\/em> a true onomatopoeia),<br><strong>\u201cBikkuri\u201d<\/strong> is a <em>reaction word<\/em> that became widely used like a verb: <strong><em>Bikkuri<\/em> Suru<\/strong> (to be startled).<br>That\u2019s why it\u2019s considered an <strong>almost onomatopoeia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In English, it might be:<br>\u201cWhoa!\u201d \/ \u201cOh my gosh!\u201d \/ \u201cI was startled!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch &amp; Feel the \u201cBikkuri\u201d World!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feel the \u201cBikkuri\u201d \u2014 Surprise Moment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Most Emotional Reunion Moments That Will Make You Cry | Emotional Reactions.\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qMPLEu6jcW0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Try Using It!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Someone suddenly calls your name?<br>You hear thunder right outside the window?<br>Get a jump scare in a movie?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try saying:<br><strong>Bikkuri!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4929\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Emotion-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=37\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_emotion_enter__.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for emotion-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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever turned around and suddenly saw someone standing right behind you? Or heard a loud noise that made your heart jump? That\u2019s when the Japanese word \u201cBikkuri\u201d comes in \u2014 a common, emotional reaction word meaning \u201csurprised!\u201dEven though it sounds like an onomatopoeia, it\u2019s not officially categorized as one \u2014 it\u2019s an almost onomatopoeia, mimicking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-_emotion-based","category-almost-onomatopoeia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4548","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=4548"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5063,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4548\/revisions\/5063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}