Translation guide
Describes a short, high-pitched sound, often from objects, animals, or people. Japanese uses onomatopoeia and mimetic words that vary by source and context.
ドアがギーッと開いた。
The door opened with a squeak.
ネズミがチューチュー鳴いた。
The mouse squeaked.
Express a short, sharp, high-pitched noise made by an inanimate object, often due to friction or pressure.
Mimics a high-pitched, repetitive squeaking or creaking sound, like a rusty hinge or tight shoes. Often used with と or as an adverb.
ドアがキーキーと音を立てた。
The door made a squeaking sound.
My new shoes squeak.
A lighter, sharper squeak, often from rubbing a smooth surface, like a window being cleaned or a marker on a whiteboard.
窓を拭くとキュッキュッと音がした。
When I wiped the window, it made a squeaking sound.
A lower, grating squeak, like a heavy door or old floorboards. More creaky than キーキー.
床板がギーギー鳴る。
The floorboards squeak.
Describe the high-pitched vocalization of a small animal.
The standard onomatopoeia for a mouse or rat squeaking. Often used with 鳴く.
ネズミがチューチュー鳴いている。
The mouse is squeaking.
Can also be used for high-pitched animal cries, like bats or distressed small animals.
コウモリがキーキー鳴く。
Bats squeak.
Describe a person making a squeaking sound, either vocally or through an object.
High-pitched squealing, often from excitement or fear. Used for people, especially children or women.
子供たちがキャーキャー言いながら遊んでいる。
The children are playing, squealing with delight.
A shrill, squeaky voice. Often used negatively to describe an annoying tone.
彼女はキーキー声で話す。
She speaks in a squeaky voice.
Squeaking from a toy whistle or similar object blown by a person.
Emphasize a single, short squeak rather than a continuous sound.
A single, short, sharp squeak, like a quick rub or a small animal's cry. Often used with と.
マーカーがキュッと鳴った。
The marker squeaked.
ネズミがキュッと鳴いた。
The mouse let out a squeak.
A single, high-pitched, grating squeak, like a sudden brake or a rusty hinge.
ブレーキがキーッと鳴った。
The brakes squeaked.
Many Japanese onomatopoeia can be used with the particle と to indicate the manner of a sound, especially for a single or sudden sound. For continuous sounds, they often function as adverbs without と.
ドアがギーッと開いた。
The door opened with a squeak.
ドアがギーギー鳴っている。
The door is squeaking continuously.
English 'with a squeak' is often rendered in Japanese by choosing the appropriate onomatopoeia and using it adverbially or with と. There is no single word for 'squeak' that covers all contexts; the sound symbolism differs.
笛をピーピー吹く。
He blows the whistle with a squeak.