反響
hankyō[hã̠ŋʲkʲo̞ː]
The Japanese word for echo is 反響 (hankyō), こだま or エコー.
Meaning: reflected sound (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 反響 | hankyō | [hã̠ŋʲkʲo̞ː] (narrow) |
| こだま | kodama | |
| エコー | ekō |
The term for echo varies depending on whether you are discussing a physical phenomenon, a poetic natural occurrence or a modern technical effect. It can also refer to the metaphorical resonance of an event or opinion.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 反響 is composed of 反, meaning reflect or opposite and 響, meaning sound or resonance.
Which one should you use?
反響 is used for the physical or technical phenomenon of sound reflecting off a surface, as well as for metaphorical resonance. In contrast, こだま is used specifically for echoes found in nature, such as in mountains or valleys and carries a more poetic or traditional nuance. エコー is a loanword used in modern, informal or technical contexts like audio engineering and digital effects.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hankyō
Did you know?
- The term エコー is used in Japanese medicine to refer to an ultrasound exam, whereas English speakers use 'echo' only for echocardiograms.
- In Japanese folklore, a こだま is not just a sound but a spirit that mimics the voice of humans to mislead them in the woods.
- In the context of social media or news, the word 反響 is used to describe the 'repercussions' or 'buzz' generated by a post. If a video goes viral, a Japanese speaker might say it had a large 反響.
Examples in context
- 崖の上から叫べば、自分の声のこだまが聞けるよ。If you shout from the top of a cliff, you can hear the echo of your voice.This sentence is useful for hearing how to use こだま when talking about the echo of a voice in nature.Tatoeba #184701 by bunbuku, translation #21829 by AlanF_US
- 電子音が廊下にエコーしていた。The electronic sound echoed through the hallway.
- ゴルフボールが岩壁にぶつかった音が響き渡った。The sound of the golf ball hitting the rock wall echoed.
- 洞窟の中で声が反響している。doukutsu no naka de koe ga hankyou shite iru.Voices are echoing inside the cave.
- 狭い部屋では音が反響しやすい。semai heya de wa oto ga hankyou shiyasui.Sound tends to echo easily in narrow rooms.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are inside an empty hall.
- 美咲 Misakiわあ、すごい反響だね！Waa, sugoi hankyou da ne!Wow, there is a huge echo!
- 陽太 Yota本当に。声が響きすぎているよ。Hontou ni. Koe ga hibiki sugite iru yo.Really. The voice is echoing too much.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くん、何か叫んでみて！Youta-kun, nanika sakande mite!Yota, try shouting something!
- 陽太 Yota恥ずかしいから無理だよ。Hazukashii kara muri da yo.I can't do that, it's embarrassing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “echo” translations and entries 反響, こだま, エコー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
