Translation guide
How to express the action of swallowing quickly or in large amounts, often due to nervousness, surprise, or drinking eagerly.
To describe the physical act of swallowing hard when anxious, scared, or surprised.
Literally 'to drink one's breath', this is the most common way to describe a sharp intake of breath from shock or fear, often accompanied by a gulp.
She gulped when she heard the news.
Literally 'to swallow raw saliva', used when nervousness or anticipation makes you gulp audibly.
I gulped before the interview.
Onomatopoeia for a single, audible gulp, often used in manga or casual speech.
He gulped audibly.
To describe drinking something quickly, greedily, or in big swallows.
Onomatopoeic adverb meaning to drink in large gulps, often used for beer or water when very thirsty.
He gulped down the beer.
Means 'to drink in one go', similar to chugging or downing a drink.
I gulped down the water.
Onomatopoeia for repeated gulping sounds, often used when drinking thirstily.
To describe eating something by swallowing it whole or in large pieces.
To describe holding back tears, anger, or a retort, often with a physical gulp.
English 'gulp' covers both sound and action. Japanese often uses onomatopoeia (ごくり, がぶがぶ) or specific verbs. Using 飲む alone may not convey the urgency or emotion.
The child is gulping down milk.
彼はパンを急いで飲み込んだ。
He gulped down the bread.
She gulped back her tears and said goodbye.