風鈴
fūrin[ɸɯ̟ːɾʲĩɴ]
The English phrase "wind chime" is translated into Japanese as 風鈴 (fūrin).
風鈴 refers to decorative tubular bells.
Meaning: decorative tubular bells (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters for 'wind' (風) and 'bell' (鈴).
How do you pronounce it?
fūrin
When do people say it?
In Japan, wind chimes are traditionally associated with summer and are used to evoke a sense of coolness.
Did you know?
- Historically, the 鈴 part of 風鈴 has roots in Buddhist tradition, where bells were used to ward off evil spirits and cleanse the mind. In a modern context, they have shifted from religious tools to seasonal ornaments.
- Unlike Western wind chimes that often use various lengths of metal to create a melody, traditional Japanese 風鈴 typically produce a single, clear, high-pitched note.
- Many traditional 風鈴 include a small paper strip called a 風流紙 (fūryūshi) hanging from the bottom, which catches the breeze to ring the bell.
Examples in context
- 彼の庭には美しい風鈴があります。He has beautiful wind chimes in his garden.
- 風鈴の音色は心を落ち着かせます。The sound of wind chimes soothes the heart.
- 友達が夏風鈴を作ってくれました。My friend made a summer wind chime for me.
- 風鈴の音が聞こえます。I can hear the sound of the wind chime.
- 軒下に風鈴を吊るしています。Noshita ni fuurin o tsurushite imasu.I am hanging a wind chime under the eaves.
- この風鈴はとても綺麗な音ですね。Kono fuurin wa totemo kirei na oto desu ne.This wind chime makes a very beautiful sound.
- 風鈴がチリンと鳴りました。Fuurin ga chirin to narimashita.The wind chime jingled.
Example conversation
A quiet summer afternoon at a traditional Japanese house.
- 陽葵 Himari風鈴の音が聞こえるね。Fuurin no oto ga kikoeru ne.I can hear the sound of the wind chime.
- 陽太 Yota涼しげな音が心地いいよ。Suzushige na oto ga kokochii yo.The cool sound feels nice.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太君は、新しい風鈴が欲しい？Hinata-kun wa, atarashii fuurin ga hoshii?Hinata, do you want a new wind chime?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、青いのがいいな。Un, aoi no ga ii na.Yeah, a blue one would be nice.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 風鈴, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
