Translation guide
The English word "bell" refers to a hollow metal object that makes a ringing sound when struck, or the sound itself. In Japanese, the translation depends on the type, size, and context of the bell.
A small bell that you ring by shaking or striking, often used for signaling.
General word for a small bell, such as a wind chime, cat bell, or bicycle bell. Often spherical with a pellet inside.
I put a bell on the cat's collar.
I rang the bicycle bell.
Loanword from English, used for many modern small bells like doorbells, alarm bells, or school bells. Often electric.
The bell for the start of class rang.
A large, heavy bell that is struck with a hammer or clapper, often for religious or timekeeping purposes.
Refers to a large hanging bell, especially in temples or churches. Can also mean a gong.
The temple bell rang out with a deep tone.
To ring the New Year's Eve bell.
Also used for large bells in Western contexts, like church bells or clock tower bells.
An electric device that produces a ringing or buzzing sound when activated.
Standard term for electric bells, including doorbells, alarm bells, and ringers.
Please press the doorbell.
The fire alarm bell rang.
Often used for a melodic doorbell or a school chime. Implies a more pleasant sound than a simple buzzer.
Something shaped like a bell, such as a flower or a skirt.
The ringing sound itself, often used in onomatopoeia.
The sound of a small bell. Can be used poetically.
I heard the sound of a bell from afar.
The sound of a large bell, often with a deep resonance.
The sound of the bell echoed through the quiet village.
Onomatopoeia for the deep sound of a large bell.
Onomatopoeia for the high-pitched ringing of a small bell.
鈴 is a small, often spherical bell with a pellet inside, like a jingle bell. 鐘 is a large, hanging bell struck from the outside, like a temple bell. ベル is a loanword used for modern electric bells, doorbells, and sometimes Western-style large bells. Use 鈴 for small tinkling bells, 鐘 for deep resonant bells, and ベル for electric or Western-style bells.
A doorbell is ベル or チャイム, not 鈴. 鈴 would sound like a small jingling bell, not an electric buzzer.
The church bells rang out.
The doorbell rang, so I went to the front door.
The bell went 'gong'.
鈴がリンリンと鳴った。
The bell went 'ring-ring'.