38551
Why isn't the second `ふか` changed to `ぶか` in `ふかふか`; thus, becoming `ふかぶか`? I
would expect to see `ふかぶか` instead of `ふかふか` for the same reason that `ひとびと`
is `ひとびと`, not `ひとひと`. There is no voicing; thus, Lyman's Law cannot be
suppressing it.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T15:58:39.203
38549
2016-08-18T20:05:42.613
2016-08-18T20:05:42.613
1628
17539
question
onomatopoeia rendaku sound-symbolism
Why is there no rendaku occurring in the word ふかふか?
It is impossible to explain exactly when
[[連濁]{れんだく}](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendaku) happens and when it
doesn't. The linked Wikipedia article also explains:

> In modern Japanese, rendaku is common but at times unpredictable, with
> certain words unaffected by it.

The way I understand it is it happens when two kanji words are combined. For
example from the above link:

> [人]{ひと} + [人]{ひと} → [人々]{ひとびと}
>
> hito + hito → hitobito ("person" + "person" → "people")
>
> [時]{とき} + [時]{とき} → [時時]{ときどき}
>
> toki + toki → tokidoki ("time" + "time" → "sometimes")

However, words such as 'ふかふか' from symbolism ([象徴音]{しょうちょうおん}) don't have
corresponding kanjis and [連濁]{れんだく} doesn't occur in such a case.

The link further explains:

> Rendaku thus remains partially unpredictable, sometimes presenting a problem
> even to native speakers, particularly in [Japanese
> names](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_name), where rendaku occurs or
> fails to occur often without obvious cause. In many cases, an identically
> written name may either have or not have rendaku, depending on the person.
> For example, 中田 may be read in a number of ways, including both Nakata and
> Nakada.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T16:59:02.877
38551
2016-08-18T17:04:42.843
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
-1
12259
38549
answer
`ふかふか` is more like an onomatopoeia (the formation of a word form a sound
associated with what is named) instead of connecting two words. More examples
are:

>   * きらきら (shining) [e.g. このダイヤはキラキラしている]
>   * はらはら (being nervous) [e.g. ハラハラした]
>   * からから (drying) [e.g. のどがカラカラ]
>   * かりかり (irritating) [e.g. カリカリしないで]
>

`ひとびと` is `人々` so it's connecting two words. if you say `ふかぶか` then it changes
the meaning to `深々` (lit: deeply) (e.g. 深々とおじぎする)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T17:00:17.207
38552
2016-08-18T17:06:21.957
2016-08-18T17:06:21.957
17476
17476
38549
answer
As the other answers point out, _rendaku_ doesn't occur in mimetic or
onomatopoeic words. The basis is always a particular sound (usually two
morae), e.g.

> ふわ

with a particular quality. From this sound the most common
mimetic/onomatopoeic words are those obtained by doubling the sound, e.g.

> ふわふわ

but in many cases there is also a common corresponding _to_ -adverb, e.g.

> ふわっと

**If _rendaku_ were to occur, it would change the quality of the sound.**

In fact, for ふか → ふかふか "fluffy", there is also ぶか → ぶかぶか with a completely
different meaning of "too big" or "baggy" [clothes].
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T20:04:30.663
38557
2016-08-18T20:04:30.663
1628
38549
answer