Translation guide
An interjection used to drive away animals, birds, or insects. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific exclamations or commands, often varying by region and the target being shooed.
The speaker wants to scare off or chase away an animal or bird.
A common, general-purpose shooing sound used for animals like cats, dogs, or birds. Often repeated.
Shoo! Go away!
Similar to しっしっ, a hissing-like sound to shoo animals. Often used for cats.
Shoo! Get out of here!
A sharp scolding interjection, like 'hey!' or 'stop that!', used to drive away or reprimand animals (and sometimes people).
Literally 'go over there', a direct command to shoo an animal away. Can be combined with shooing sounds.
Go away, shoo!
A short, sharp shooing sound. Less common than the repeated form.
The speaker wants to shoo away a fly, mosquito, or other insect.
Also used for insects, though sometimes accompanied by waving hands.
Shoo, this fly is annoying.
In Japan, shooing is often accompanied by a waving or sweeping hand gesture, similar to Western cultures. The sound alone may be less effective without the motion.
Using しっしっ or similar sounds toward people is rude and condescending. For telling a person to go away, use phrases like あっち行って (go away) or more polite requests depending on context.
Hey, move it!
Shoo! The cat ran away.
Can be used for insects as well, though it may sound a bit strong for a tiny bug.
Shoo, you mosquito!