Translation guide
The English word 'squeak' covers several distinct sounds: a short high-pitched cry from a small animal or person, a high-pitched noise made by an object (like a door hinge or shoes), and the idiom 'squeak by' meaning to barely succeed. Japanese expresses these with different onomatopoeia and verbs.
A short, sharp, high-pitched sound made by a small animal (mouse, bird) or a person (child, surprised adult).
The standard onomatopoeia for a mouse's squeak. Often used with the verb 鳴く (なく).
The mouse is squeaking.
A high-pitched squeak or screech, often for monkeys, bats, or excited children. Can sound more piercing than チューチュー.
The monkey is squeaking.
The children are squealing.
A squeak or peep, often for baby birds or small animals. Also used for a whistle sound.
The chick is squeaking/peeping.
A short squeak or yelp of surprise or fear from a person, often female.
She squeaked when she saw the mouse.
A squeaking sound made by a door hinge, floorboard, shoes, or a toy.
Used for a sustained squeaking noise, like a rusty hinge or brakes. Often paired with 音 (おと) or verb 鳴る (なる).
The door squeaks.
The floorboard squeaks.
A short, repeated squeak, like rubber soles on a floor or a wet finger on glass. Often used with 音 or 鳴る.
The new shoes squeak.
A lower, grating squeak, like a heavy door or old machinery. Similar to キーキー but with a heavier, more grating nuance.
To barely manage to pass, win, or survive by a small margin.
A common adverbial phrase meaning 'barely' or 'narrowly'. Used with verbs like 合格する (pass an exam), 勝つ (win), 間に合う (be in time).
He squeaked through the exam.
We squeaked onto the last train.
Means 'just barely' or 'by a hair's breadth'. Often used for time limits or close calls.
I squeaked in just before the deadline.
A more formal/literary version of かろうじて. Used in writing or formal speech.
The team squeaked out a victory.
English sometimes uses 'squeak' for a person speaking in a high-pitched voice (e.g., 'she squeaked a reply'). In Japanese, this is usually expressed with 上ずった声 (うわずったこえ, strained high voice) or simply 高い声 (たかいこえ, high voice), not onomatopoeia like キーキー, which would sound like an animal or object.
The old gate opened with a squeak.