Kaiji: zawa.. zawa.. ざわ･･ざわ･･ Sound Effect - Meaning in Japanese

In Japanese, zawa.. zawa.. ざわ･･ざわ･･ is an onomatopoeia for when a crowd gathers and starts whispering around, creating a commotion, however, it's best known for its usage in the gambling series Kaiji, in which case zawa-zawa shows up in tense, cold-sweat-breaking, anxiety-filled situations, even when there is no crowd around, so there's nothing to emit a zawa-zawa sound.

In the anime adaptation of Kaiji, someone voicing the syllables zawa-zawa is used as the sound effect

Manga: Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji 賭博黙示録カイジ

• Meaning
• Parody

Meaning

For reference, the word zawa zawa as used normally:

Manga: Zatch Bell!, Konjiki no Gash!! 金色のガッシュ!! (Chapter 1, 清麿、正義のみかた)

• Context: Zatch Bell ガッシュ・ベル did something he shouldn't have, enraging Takamine Kiyomaro 高嶺清麿.
• shikata... naku...
  仕方･･･なく･･･
  • [It couldn't be helped.]
  • [There was no other way.] (more literally)
• ko......no......
  こ･･････の･･････
  (incomplete sentence.)
  • Th......is......
  • [You...... little......]
  • See also: kono この used in swearing.
• nanda nanda!?
  何だ何だ！？
  What is it what is it!?
• zawa zawa
  ザワザワ
  *commotion*

Parody

The iconic sound effect from Kaiji カイジ is sometimes parodied in other series.

Left: Sanzen'in Nagi 三千院ナギ
Right: Maria マリア
Anime: Hayate no Gotoku! ハヤテのごとく！ (Episode 5)