Translation guide
The English onomatopoeia 'bow-wow' represents a dog's bark. In Japanese, the standard equivalent is 'wan wan'. This guide covers how to express dog barking sounds naturally in Japanese, including variations and related expressions.
The most common way to represent a dog's bark in Japanese, equivalent to 'bow-wow' or 'woof woof'.
The standard onomatopoeia for a dog's bark. Used by both children and adults. Can be repeated or used singly.
犬がワンワン吠えている。
The dog is barking bow-wow.
ワンワン！
Bow-wow!
A higher-pitched or cuter bark, often used for small dogs or in baby talk.
Represents a yapping or high-pitched bark, typical of small dogs. Often used in a slightly negative sense for annoying barking.
隣のチワワがキャンキャンうるさい。
The neighbor's Chihuahua is yapping noisily.
A deep, threatening bark or growl from a big dog.
Represents a rough, deep bark or growl. Often used for large or aggressive dogs.
大きな犬がガウガウ唸っている。
The big dog is growling bow-wow.
A childish or affectionate way to refer to a dog, similar to 'doggy' in English.
In baby talk, 'wan wan' can mean 'dog' itself, not just the sound. Used with small children.
ほら、ワンワンがいるよ。
Look, there's a doggy.
Japanese has a rich set of onomatopoeic words (giongo/gitaigo). 'Wan wan' is the default for dogs, but variations exist for different sizes and contexts. Unlike English, these sounds are often used in everyday speech, not just in children's language.
犬がワンワンと鳴いた。
The dog went bow-wow.