ピンポン
pin pon[pʲim põ̞ɴ]
In Japanese, "bing bong" is expressed as ピンポン (pin pon).
ピンポン is an onomatopoeic phrase used to imitate the sound a doorbell makes.
Which one should you use?
While ピンポン imitates a doorbell, the informal expression コンコン is used to imitate the sound of knocking on a door.
How do you pronounce it?
pin pon
Did you know?
- The word ピンポン is a loanword from the English 'ping pong'. This means the sound of a doorbell in Japanese is linguistically linked to the name of a table tennis ball bouncing.
- In Japanese game shows, the sound ピンポン is played to signal a correct answer. Conversely, the sound ブブー is used to signal a wrong answer.
- The term ピンポン is an example of a 'mimetic' word where the sound is standardized. Even if a real doorbell makes a different noise, Japanese speakers will almost always describe it as ピンポン.
Examples in context
- ドアのチャイム音、どう表現したらいい？Ah, if that's the case, you can just say "pinpon"!
- ピンポンと鳴りました。pinpon to narimashita.It went ding-dong.
- ピンポンの音が聞こえます。pinpon no oto ga kikoemasu.I can hear the doorbell ringing.
- 玄関でピンポンと鳴っています。genkan de pinpon to natte imasu.The doorbell is ringing at the entrance.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are waiting for a delivery at home.
- 蓮 Renあ、ピンポンが鳴ったよ。A, pinpon ga natta yo.Oh, the doorbell rang.
- 結衣 Yui本当だ。宅配便かな？Honto da. Takuhaibin kana?You're right. Maybe it's the delivery?
- 蓮 Ren僕が出るよ。Boku ga deru yo.I'll get it.
- 結衣 Yuiお願いね、蓮さん。Onegai ne, Ren-san.Please do, Ren.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ピンポン, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ピンポン, CC BY-SA 4.0.
