Translation guide
The act of producing a musical sound with closed lips, or a continuous low sound like a machine or insect.
To produce a melody by humming with your mouth closed.
The most common word for humming a tune. Literally 'nose song'. Often used with the verb 歌う (to sing) or 口ずさむ (to hum to oneself).
He is cooking while humming a tune.
I could hear someone humming.
Verb meaning to hum or sing softly to oneself, often without thinking. Can be used for humming or quietly singing.
She was humming the melody.
Loanword from English, used as a verb. Common in casual contexts or when referring to humming as a vocal exercise.
He often walks while humming.
A steady, low, droning sound like an engine, fan, or bee.
Onomatopoeic phrase for a humming or buzzing sound. ブーン mimics the sound, and という音 means 'the sound of'. Used for bees, motors, etc.
The bee is making a humming sound.
The refrigerator is humming.
Literally 'low groan/growl', used for a deep humming or droning noise, like an engine or wind.
I can hear the low hum of the engine.
Noun meaning groan, growl, or hum. Often used for mechanical or natural low sounds. Can sound slightly literary.
To be full of activity, excitement, or busy movement (e.g., 'the office was humming').
Means 'to be overflowing with energy/liveliness'. Natural way to describe a place that is bustling or humming with activity.
The office is humming with activity.
Means 'to be bustling/crowded'. Used for places full of people and activity.
The market is humming with people.
鼻歌 is the native Japanese word and feels more natural in everyday speech. ハミング is a loanword and often used in musical contexts or when referring to humming as a technique. Both are common, but 鼻歌 is slightly more idiomatic.
Humming a tune is fun.
He is practicing humming.
ハミング is only used for vocal humming by people. For machine or insect humming, use onomatopoeia like ブーン or words like うなり.
風の唸りが一晩中続いた。
The hum of the wind continued all night.