Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2014

Speed up your language learning with these imitative Japanese sounds

• じわじわ jiwajiwa steadily, without haste
• こつこつ kotsukotsu continuing efforts little by little for future purpose
• すらすら surasura unimpeded, continuous
• ますます masumasu increasingly, more and more or decreasingly, less and less
• ぞこぞこ zokozoko feel a thrill, adrenaline rush
• せっせと sesseto enthusiastic continuation of a task
• てきぱき tekipaki doing a job quickly and proficiently

Source: Giongo/Gitaigo: A Practical Guide to Mimetic Expressions Through Pictures, by Akutsu Satoru (ALC Press Inc., 1994)