音
oto[õ̞ɴ]
The English word 'sound' can be translated into Japanese in several ways depending on the context. The most common form is 音 (oto). Wiktionary also lists 音声 (onsei) and 響き (hibiki).
Meaning: sensation perceived by the ear (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 音 | oto | [õ̞ɴ] (narrow) [o̞to̞] (narrow) |
| 音声 | onsei | [õ̞ɰ̃se̞ː] (narrow) |
| 響き | hibiki | [çibʲikʲi] (narrow) |
The general term for any sound, such as a noise, a bang or a musical note, is 音. If you are describing the timbre or tone quality of a voice or a musical instrument, use 音色.
Which one should you use?
There are three main ways to express different types of sound: 音 (oto) is the general term for any sound. 音声 (onsei) refers specifically to human speech or audio signals used in technology, such as a voice recording or an audio track. And 響き (hibiki) refers to the resonance, echo or the quality of a sound's ring.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of 音 is oto.
Did you know?
- In ancient Japanese texts like the Kojiki, the word for a sound or cry was sometimes written using the kanji for 'mud', which is 泥.
- While 音 (oto) is the general term for sound, the word 音 can also be read as ne to refer specifically to the sounds made by animals, such as the cry of a bird or an insect.
Examples in context
- 今の何の音？What was that sound?This sentence is useful for asking about a specific sound that just occurred using 音.Tatoeba #3550525 by tommy__san, translation #954582 by CK
- これ何の音？What is this sound?This sentence is useful for asking about a sound that is currently present using 音.Tatoeba #3550836 by tommy_san, translation #3583338 by mikecash
- 妙な音が聞こえた。I heard a strange sound.This sentence is useful for describing the act of hearing a strange sound using 音.Tatoeba #81036 by tommy_san, translation #322678 by CK
- 100 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are listening to a music box in a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiこの音、すごく綺麗だね。Kono oto, sugoku kirei dane.This sound is so beautiful, isn't it?
- 蓮 Renそうだね、美咲。癒やされるよ。Sou dane, Misaki. Iyasareru yo.You're right, Misaki. It's soothing.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮は、この音を聞いたことがある？Ren wa, kono oto o kiita koto ga aru?Ren, have you heard this sound before?
- 蓮 Renいや、初めて聞いたよ。Iya, hajimete kiita yo.No, it's my first time hearing it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sound” translations and entries 音, 音声, 響き, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 音, 響き, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
