がらん

also: がらーん

が

ら

ん

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

clanging; banging

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Mimetic word for a loud, resonant metallic sound, like a bell or heavy object striking metal.

鐘かねががらんと鳴なった。
The bell clanged loudly.

2

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

empty; deserted

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a space that feels hollow, empty, or devoid of people, often with an echoey atmosphere.

休きゅう日じつのオフィスはがらんとしていた。
The office was deserted on the holiday.

Usage patterns

がらんとした〈場ば所しょ〉a deserted, hollow-feeling place
がらんとした教きょう室しつに一人ひとりで座すわっていた。
I sat alone in the empty, echoing classroom.
〈物もの〉ががらんと鳴なるfor something to clang loudly (of a bell or metal object)
大おおきな鐘かねがガランと鳴なった。
The large bell clanged loudly.
〈場ば所しょ〉ががらんとしているfor a place to be empty and echoey
引ひっ越こした後あとの部屋へやはがらんとしていた。
The room felt hollow and empty after we moved out.

Related words

かんかん sense 1
かんかん describes a sharp, ringing metallic sound (like hammering on metal), while がらん suggests a heavier, more resonant clang.
がらんどう sense 2
がらんどう is a noun/adjective describing a space that is completely hollow and empty, while がらん is the adverbial mimetic word describing that same empty, echoey feeling.
ガンガンN1sense 1
がんがん conveys a repeated, jarring banging or ringing noise, whereas がらん is typically a single resonant clang.

Don't confuse with

ガラガラN3sense 2
がらがら usually describes a place that is uncrowded (like a half-empty train), while がらん specifically evokes an eerie, echoing emptiness in an enclosed space.

Word family

がらんがらん
clanging; clanking

Written forms

がらんUsage57%
Standard kana spelling; no kanji form exists.
ガランUsage43%
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in manga.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic origin, imitating a resonant metallic sound; the 'empty' sense likely derives from the hollow, echoing quality of such a sound.