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Kotomora

声

voice

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • セイ
  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

  • こえ
  • こわ-

Meaning

声 centers on sound produced by a person or living thing: a voice, vocal sound, or utterance.

Most common words using 声

24 of 340
  • 声こえ
    N5

    voice

  • 音声おんせい
    N2

    voice; speech; sound of a voice

  • 声明せいめい
    N1

    declaration; statement; proclamation

  • 大声おおごえ
    N3

    loud voice

  • 歌声うたごえ
    N1

    singing voice; (sound of) singing

  • 鳴き声なきごえ

    cry (of an animal); call; chirp; song; caw; roar; bark; yelp; meow

  • 小声こごえ

    low voice; whisper

  • 名声めいせい
    N1

    fame; reputation; renown

  • 歓声かんせい
    N1

    cheer; shout of joy

  • 笑い声わらいごえ
    N1

    (sound of) laughter; laughing voice

  • 発声はっせい
    N1

    utterance; speaking; vocalization; vocalisation

  • 声援せいえん
    N1

    (shout of) encouragement; cheering; rooting; support

  • 掛け声かけごえ

    shout (of encouragement, etc.); yell (used to time or encourage activity, e.g. "Heave ho!")

  • 叫び声さけびごえ
    N3

    shout; yell; scream; cry

  • 銃声じゅうせい

    sound of a gunshot; report of a gun

  • 声楽せいがく

    vocal music

  • 声高こわだか

    loud (of a voice)

  • 泣き声なきごえ
    N1

    cry (e.g. of a baby); sob; whine

  • 呼び声よびごえ

    call; hail; yell

  • 声色こわいろ

    tone of voice

  • 第一声だいいっせい

    first words said (e.g. when meeting someone); first thing out of one's mouth

  • 話し声はなしごえ
    N1

    speaking voice; talking voice

  • 肉声にくせい

    natural voice (without a microphone)

  • 涙声なみだごえ

    tearful voice

Explore all words using 声 →

Study

Etymology

声 is the modern simplified form of 聲. The older form combines 殸 (a stone chime) with 耳 (ear), representing sound heard by the ear. The modern form retains the top 士 and a simplified lower part.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 士 looks like a samurai standing tall, and the lower part resembles a simplified body with an open mouth. Picture a samurai shouting with a loud voice.

Reading mnemonic

For セイ, imagine a samurai's voice saying 'say!' as a command: 'say' -> セイ, and his voice rings out clearly.