びょーん
byōn
The English phrase "boing" is expressed in Japanese as びょーん (byōn).
びょーん is an onomatopoeia used to describe the sound of something bouncing or springing.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is byōn.
Did you know?
- While びょーん describes a springy bounce, Japanese has a separate word ぽよん for a softer, squishier bounce, such as that of a marshmallow or a cheek.
- Japanese has unique sound words like びょーん that describe the movement of things that make no actual sound, a concept known as 'mimetic' words.
- While many onomatopoeic words in Japanese are written in katakana, びょーん is frequently written in hiragana to give the sound a softer, more playful, or even cute feeling.
Examples in context
- バネがびょーんとはじけた。Bane ga byoon to hajiketa.The spring went boing.
- ゴムがびょーん！と飛んでいった。Gomu ga byoon! to tonde itta.The rubber band went boing and flew away!
- ボールがびょーん！と跳ねた。Booru ga byoon! to haneta.The ball went boing!
Example conversation
Hana and Hiroto are playing with a toy spring.
- 大翔 Hiroto見て、このおもちゃすごいよ。Mite, kono omocha sugoi yo.Look, this toy is amazing.
- 陽葵 Himari本当に！びょーんと跳ねるね。Hontō ni! Byōn to haneru ne.Really! It bounces with a boing.
- 大翔 Hiroto高く跳ぶよね。Takaku tobu yo ne.It jumps really high, doesn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari面白いね、大翔。Omoshiroi ne, Hiroto.It's funny, Hiroto.
