サイレン
sairen[sa̠iɾẽ̞ɴ]
The English word siren is translated into Japanese as サイレン (sairen). Wiktionary also lists 警笛 (keiteki) and 警報器 (keihōki).
Meaning: device for making a sound alarm (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| サイレン | sairen | [sa̠iɾẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
| 警笛 | keiteki | [ke̞ːte̞kʲi] (narrow) |
| 警報器 | keihōki | [ke̞ːho̞ːkʲi] (narrow) |
| 警報機 | keihōki | |
| 号笛 | gōteki | [ɡo̞ːte̞kʲi] (narrow) |
The term is used to refer to a device that makes an alarm sound or the sound itself.
Which one should you use?
While サイレン refers to the sound or the device in a general sense, 警報器 (or 警報機) refers more specifically to a technical alarm device or apparatus. Other related terms include 警笛 (keiteki) and 号笛 (gōteki).
How do you pronounce it?
sairen
Did you know?
- Japan has a unique nationwide custom where a specific サイレン pattern is broadcast every day at 5 pm in some rural towns to signal the end of the workday or a reminder for children to go home.
- In many Japanese cities, the 'siren' of a disaster warning is not a single device but a network of loudspeakers known as 防災行政無線 (bōsai gyōsei musen), which broadcasts through the streets.
- In Japan, the サイレン used by ambulances is distinct from that of fire trucks, and locals can often tell which emergency vehicle is approaching just by the pitch and pattern.
Examples in context
- サイレンが聞こえてきた。I heard a siren.This sentence is useful for describing the act of hearing a サイレン.Tatoeba #11047060 by bunbuku, translation #13347680 by cost_
- パトカーが犯人の車をけたたましいサイレンを鳴らしながら追跡する。A police car chases after the criminal with its siren wailing.This sentence demonstrates how a police car uses a サイレン while chasing a suspect.Tatoeba #10585578 by Sonata, translation #10585734 by DJ_Saidez
- 救急車のサイレンの音が聞こえた。The siren of an ambulance could be heard.This sentence is useful for describing hearing the sound of an ambulance's サイレン.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are walking in the city when they hear an emergency vehicle.
- 陽太 Yotaあれ、サイレンの音がするね。Are, sairen no oto ga suru ne.Oh, I hear a siren.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ。消防車かな。Hontō da. Shōbōsha kana.You're right. I wonder if it's a fire truck.
- 陽太 Yotaサイレンがどんどん近づいてくるよ。Sairen ga dondon chikazuite kuru yo.The siren is getting closer and closer.
- 美咲 Misaki道をあけよう、陽太。Michi o akeyō, Yōta.Let's clear the way, Yota.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “siren” translations and entries サイレン, 警笛, 警報器, 号笛, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
