1. Compare: rain, fire, thunder and texture
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Compare intensity and texture. These words are not interchangeable labels for the same scene.
ザーザー
The sound of heavy, continuous rain.
雨が ザーザー ふっています。
It is pouring with rain.
しとしと suggests quiet, gentle rain; ザーザー emphasizes a heavy rush.
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Open the media fileしとしと
Gentle rain falling quietly and steadily.
雨が しとしと ふっています。
A gentle rain is falling.
ぽつぽつ focuses on scattered drops; しとしと on gentle, sustained rain.
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Open the media fileパチパチ
Light, repeated crackling sounds from a fire.
火が パチパチ もえています。
The fire is crackling gently.
バチバチ sounds stronger. パチパチ can also describe clapping.
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Open the media fileバチバチ
Loud, forceful crackling or snapping.
火が バチバチ もえています。
The fire is crackling fiercely.
Here it describes fire. It can also describe electrical crackling.
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Open the media fileゴロゴロ
A low, rolling rumble of thunder.
雷が ゴロゴロ なっています。
Thunder is rumbling.
ピカッ describes the flash. ゴロゴロ can also describe objects rolling or lounging around.
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Open the media fileピカッ
A sudden, brief flash of light.
空が ピカッと ひかりました。
The sky lit up with a sudden flash.
The small ッ gives an abrupt ending. Use ピカッと before a verb such as 光る.
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Open the media fileさらさら
Fine material flowing freely, or a smooth, silky feel.
砂が さらさら ながれます。
The fine sand flows freely.
ざらざら feels rough. さらさら also describes smooth, silky hair.
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Open the media fileざらざら
A rough, grainy surface.
この 石は ざらざら しています。
This stone feels rough.
This describes how a surface feels; it does not require an audible sound.
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Heavy rain is falling with a loud, steady rushing sound.
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Answer: ザーザー.
The hiragana and katakana spellings here are presentation choices. Other spellings are possible; a word’s script alone does not determine its meaning.