ささやく

さ

や

く

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

whisper; murmur

usually written using kana alone

To speak in a very quiet voice, often so that only the intended listener can hear. Can also describe soft sounds of nature.

彼かれは彼かの女じょの耳みみ元もとで愛あいの言こと葉ばをささやいた。
He whispered words of love into her ear.

風かぜが木き々ぎの間あいだをささやくように吹ふいていた。

The wind was blowing, murmuring through the trees.

2

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

be rumored; be whispered about

usually written using kana alone

Used in passive form (ささやかれる) to mean that something is being rumored or talked about quietly among people. Not used actively for 'to rumor'.

彼かれが辞じ任にんするのではないかとささやかれている。
It is whispered that he might resign.

Written forms

ささやくUsage54%
Usually written in kana. The kanji form 囁く exists but is uncommon in modern writing.
囁ささやくUsage46%
Rare kanji form; learners will almost always encounter the kana spelling.
私語ささやく
rarely-used kanji form
Very rare kanji form; not recommended for active use.

Kanji

囁whisper, murmur
私private, I, me
語word, speech, language

Similar words

ひそひそ話はなす
ひそひそ話す emphasizes the secretive or hushed manner of speaking, often in a group, while ささやく focuses on the soft, breathy quality of the voice itself.
つぶやく
つぶやく is to mutter or murmur to oneself, often without intending to be heard, whereas ささやく is directed at a listener.

Etymology

The word is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 囁 is a kokuji (Japanese-made character) combining 口 (mouth) and 聶 (whisper), but the reading ささやく is not derived from the kanji's on'yomi.