Translation guide
The English word 'murmur' covers a range of low, soft, often indistinct sounds made by people or things. In Japanese, the best choice depends on what is producing the sound and the context: a person speaking softly/complaining, a crowd's background noise, a flowing stream, or a medical heart murmur.
To say something in a low, quiet, or barely audible voice, often not meant to be heard clearly.
To mutter or murmur something to oneself or in a low voice. Often used for quiet, introspective speech or when complaining under one's breath.
彼は何か呟いた。
He murmured something.
「もう疲れた」と彼女は呟いた。
"I'm so tired," she murmured.
To whisper. Implies a very quiet voice, often secretive or intimate. Closer to 'whisper' than a general murmur.
彼は耳元で愛の言葉を囁いた。
He murmured words of love into her ear.
To say in a low voice. A straightforward phrase for speaking quietly without the nuance of muttering or whispering.
彼は小声で文句を言った。
He murmured a complaint under his breath.
To mutter or murmur in a low, indistinct way, often implying the speaker is hard to understand or is talking to themselves.
彼は何かぼそぼそ言っていた。
He was murmuring something indistinctly.
To express discontent or annoyance in a low voice, often not meant to be directly confrontational.
To grumble or mutter complaints. Very common for expressing dissatisfaction under one's breath.
彼はいつも何かぶつぶつ言っている。
He's always murmuring complaints about something.
客が値段についてぶつぶつ言っていた。
The customer was murmuring about the price.
To complain. More direct than murmuring, but can be used with '小声で' (in a low voice) to convey a murmured complaint.
彼は小声で不平を言った。
He murmured his complaints quietly.
A low, continuous, soothing sound made by nature, like a stream or breeze.
The murmuring sound of a shallow stream or brook. A specific and poetic term.
小川のせせらぎが聞こえる。
I can hear the murmur of the brook.
A rustling, murmuring, or buzzing sound, often from leaves, a crowd, or a low continuous noise.
To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound, like leaves or a gentle stream.
木の葉が風にさらさらと音を立てていた。
The leaves were murmuring in the wind.
The low, continuous sound of many people talking quietly at once.
A murmuring or buzzing noise from a crowd. Often used for an unsettled or excited atmosphere.
会場にざわつきが広がった。
A murmur spread through the venue.
A stir, commotion, or murmur of surprise/excitement from a crowd. Slightly louder than a quiet murmur.
彼の登場に観客からどよめきが起こった。
A murmur arose from the audience at his entrance.
The sound of people talking. A neutral description for background murmur.
カフェには人々の話し声が静かに響いていた。
The murmur of people's voices filled the café.
An abnormal sound heard during a heartbeat, often indicating a valve problem.
Medical term for heart murmur. Literally 'heart noise'.
医者は心雑音があると言った。
The doctor said there is a heart murmur.
Heart murmur, slightly less technical phrasing.
健康診断で心臓の雑音を指摘された。
A heart murmur was detected during the checkup.
呟く (tsubuyaku) is for muttering to oneself or quietly, often introspective. 囁く (sasayaku) is whispering, usually to someone else, with a secretive or intimate tone. ぶつぶつ言う (butsubutsu iu) is grumbling or complaining under one's breath, often with a negative connotation.
彼は独り言を呟いた。
He murmured to himself.
彼女は秘密を囁いた。
She whispered the secret.
彼は仕事についてぶつぶつ言っていた。
He was murmuring complaints about work.
English 'murmur' for water or wind often translates to specific onomatopoeic or mimetic words in Japanese (e.g., せせらぎ, ざわめき). Using a generic verb like 'つぶやく' for a stream would sound unnatural.
小川のせせらぎ
the murmur of a brook
風のざわめきが森の中に響いていた。
The murmur of the wind echoed through the forest.