Translation guide
To speak quietly and unclearly, often with the mouth barely open, making it hard for others to understand.
The most common meaning: to say something quietly and indistinctly, often due to shyness, lack of confidence, or not wanting to be heard clearly.
Describes muttering or grumbling to oneself in a low, unclear voice. Often used when someone is complaining or talking to themselves.
彼は何かぶつぶつ言いながら歩いていた。
He was walking along mumbling something to himself.
Mimics the sound of speaking with food in one's mouth or speaking indistinctly. Emphasizes the muffled, unclear quality of the speech.
When someone mumbles because they are nervous, shy, or embarrassed, often avoiding eye contact.
Describes speaking while fidgeting or hesitating, often due to shyness. The speech itself may be mumbled.
彼はもじもじしながら名前をつぶやいた。
He shyly mumbled his name.
To mumble in a complaining or dissatisfied way, often to oneself.
To grumble or mutter complaints. Stronger sense of dissatisfaction than ぶつぶつ.
彼はいつも何かぶつくさ言っている。
He's always mumbling complaints about something.
The English word 'mumble' does not have a single direct Japanese equivalent. Instead, use onomatopoeic adverbs like ぶつぶつ, もごもご, or ぼそぼそ combined with 言う to describe the manner of speaking.
Japanese often uses onomatopoeic words to describe the sound or manner of speech. ぶつぶつ suggests muttering, もごもご suggests muffled or unclear speech, and ぼそぼそ suggests a low, subdued voice.
もごもご言わないで、はっきり話して！
Stop mumbling and speak clearly!
彼は何かぶつぶつ言って立ち去った。
He mumbled something and walked away.
He mumbled and I couldn't understand what he was saying.
To mutter or murmur, often in a low voice to oneself. Can be used for mumbling, but often implies a slightly more audible or poetic tone, like whispering thoughts.
彼女は「もう無理だ」とつぶやいた。
She mumbled, 'I can't do this anymore.'
Literally 'to say inside one's mouth'. Describes speaking without opening the mouth properly, resulting in a mumble.
彼は口の中で何か言ったが、聞き取れなかった。
He mumbled something under his breath, but I couldn't catch it.
To speak in a low, subdued, and somewhat monotonous voice. Often implies speaking quietly and without energy, making it hard to hear.
彼はぼそぼそと謝った。
He mumbled an apology.
Describes the result of mumbling: the voice is too quiet to be heard. Often used to ask someone to speak up.
ごめん、声が小さくて聞こえなかった。
Sorry, you were mumbling and I couldn't hear you.
To complain or grumble. Not specifically mumbling, but often done in a low voice.
彼は小声で不平を言った。
He mumbled his complaints under his breath.