Onomatopoeia 15

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the term for those words that sound like the noise they are describing, or the use of words with sounds that echo their sound.

Onomatopoeia can have a strong impact on the sound of a poem, particularly when it is read aloud, because these are words that we tend to pronounce in a very specific way. It can also be used to make descriptions more vivid.

Often, poets will use onomatopoeia in a subtle way, using alliteration and assonance to make ‘normal’ words seem onomatopoeic.

A word whose sound imitates its meaning

“以声音来反映意义”（the sound reflects the sense）

“With a creak and a groan, the tree toppled over, hitting the ground with a loud crash!”

• The stream flows through the woods.

• The stream is murmuring through the woods.

• Heavy rain drops fell on the tent.

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• Heavy rain drops began pitter-pattering on the tent.

His speech was greeted with hisses.

The waves crashed below the Golden Gate bridge.

墙哗啦一下倒了。The wall fell in a crash.

脸盆咣的一声掉在地上。The basin fell with a crash.

The wind screamed through the trees. 风从林间呼啸而过。

• The planes were screeching over the house-tops. 飞机在屋顶上呼啸而过。

• Bees hummed in the garden. 蜜蜂在花园里嗡嗡地飞。

• There came the hum of machines.

• 传来了机器的隆隆声。

• The market hummed as the trade began.

• 随着贸易的开始，市场变得活跃起来。

• The water gurgled as it flowed down the drain.

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Mouse squeak

A bull bellows.

公牛哞哞地叫。

• Dasi started laughing

• Dasi started giggling.

• My oral slip set the boy giggling. 我的口误把这男孩惹得嗤嗤直笑。

• The water gurgled as it flowed down the drain.

• The taxi screeched to a stop. 出租车噶然刹住。

• He disappeared into the water with a splash.

• 他噗通一声跳进水里不见了。

• Boom！ The land mine exploded!

• 轰的一声，地雷炸开了。

• Hot tears trickled down in drops.

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• 热泪滴了下来。

• He fell with a flop on the ground.

• 扑通一声，他掉进水里。

• He fell into the water with a splash.

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