Japanese Onomatopoeia · 09 of 10
ニコニコ
Oss! Day 9. The sound of a smile.
ニコニコ
Means "smiling / beaming / cheerful."
Why this sound exists
ニコ is a single, soft smile. Like the corner of your mouth lifting up: ニッ. ニコニコ doubled means a smile that keeps going. It's not the sound of laughing, that's ハハハ. It's the quiet, continuous warmth of someone smiling.
How to use it
Use it for: people who are always cheerful, kids, friendly shopkeepers. A: あのおばあちゃん、いつもニコニコしてるな〜. B: ほんま優しい人やわ〜. The grandma at your favorite Osaka café? She's the definition of ニコニコ.