Translation guide
The English word "buzz" covers several distinct meanings: a continuous humming sound, excited talk or activity, a quick phone call or notification, and a feeling of excitement or intoxication. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese equivalents.
To describe a low, continuous humming or buzzing sound, like that of a bee, an electrical device, or a distant crowd.
An onomatopoeic adverb that mimics the sound of buzzing, especially for insects like bees or flies, or for motors. Often used with the verb いう or 鳴る.
A bee is buzzing.
The fan is buzzing loudly.
Another onomatopoeia for a buzzing or humming sound, often used for a single, drawn-out buzz, like a mosquito or an engine.
A mosquito came buzzing.
Onomatopoeia for the murmur or buzz of a crowd, like people talking indistinctly. Not for insect sounds.
The venue is buzzing with chatter.
Technical term for a humming noise, especially electrical hum. Literally 'hum sound'.
There's a hum coming from the amplifier.
To express a lively, excited atmosphere or the spread of rumors and talk, as in 'the room was buzzing' or 'there's a buzz about the new product'.
Literally 'has become a topic'. The most natural way to say something is generating buzz or being talked about.
The new movie is generating buzz.
Means 'full of energy/liveliness'. Used for a place or atmosphere that is buzzing with activity.
From the onomatopoeia ざわざわ, this verb means 'is buzzing/murmuring' in a restless or excited way, often about a crowd.
The office is buzzing with the news.
Means 'rumor' or 'gossip'. Often used in phrases like 噂になっている (is the talk of the town).
To refer to a brief phone call or a notification vibration, as in 'give me a buzz' or 'my phone buzzed'.
The most straightforward way to say 'give me a buzz' is simply 'call me' or 'contact me'. No special buzz nuance needed.
Give me a buzz later.
Give me a buzz if anything comes up.
Means 'incoming call' or 'notification'. Can be used for a buzz from a phone, but it's a noun.
Short for 'vibration'. Often used to mean a phone buzzing on vibrate mode.
My phone is buzzing.
To describe a pleasant feeling of excitement or mild intoxication, like 'a buzz from the coffee' or 'a buzz after a few drinks'.
Means 'to feel good/pleasant'. A general way to express a mild buzz or euphoria without specifying the cause.
I got a nice buzz from the coffee.
Specifically means 'tipsy' or 'slightly drunk'. The perfect word for a light alcohol buzz.
Means 'feeling of exhilaration' or 'euphoria'. More formal and intense than a mild buzz, but can be used for excitement.
While 'buzz' can mean a phone vibration, Japanese doesn't use a direct equivalent for 'give me a buzz'. Simply use 電話する or 連絡する. Using ブンブン for a phone call would sound like an insect.
ブンブン is for continuous buzzing (bees, fans). ブーン is for a single, drawn-out buzz (mosquito, engine). ざわざわ is for the murmur of a crowd, not mechanical or insect sounds.
The room was buzzing with excitement.
My phone buzzed.
Using 震える (to vibrate/shake) is more natural than trying to use a buzz onomatopoeia.
The market is buzzing with activity.
彼の結婚の噂で持ちきりだ。
There's a lot of buzz about his marriage.
携帯が着信で震えた。
My phone buzzed with a notification.
ビール一杯でほろ酔いになった。
I got a buzz from one beer.
I basked in the buzz of success.