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凶音 (きょういん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

凶きょう音いん

also: きょうおん

Meanings

1

noun

bad news; news of a death

A somewhat formal or literary term for bad news, especially news of someone's death. Often used in written contexts or solemn announcements.

遠えん方ぽうの親しん戚せきから凶きょう音いんが届とどいた。
Bad news arrived from a distant relative.
彼かれの突とつ然ぜんの凶きょう音いんに、一いち同どうは言こと葉ばを失うしなった。
Everyone was speechless at the sudden news of his death.

Written forms

凶音
- きょういん
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading きょういん is the most common.
- きょうおん
  Alternate reading; less common than きょういん.
きょうおん

Kanji

凶villain, evil, bad luck
音sound, noise

Similar words

訃ふ報ほう
訃報 specifically means 'news of a death' and is more common in modern Japanese. 凶音 is broader, covering any bad news, but often implies death.
悲ひ報ほう
悲報 means 'sad news' and is more general. 凶音 carries a heavier, more ominous tone, often associated with death.

Etymology

Compound of 凶 (bad, ominous) and 音 (sound, news). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally associated with receiving bad tidings.