声
Meanings
The sound produced by a person's vocal cords; the most common meaning.
Her voice is very beautiful.
Vocalizations of animals, birds, or insects; covers singing, chirping, hooting, etc.
I woke up to the sound of birds singing in the morning.
General sound, not limited to voices; can refer to any audible noise.
I can hear the sound of waves in the distance.
A sense or indication that something is coming; typically used in the pattern ～の声を聞く.
It's about the time when we start to feel autumn approaching.
voice (linguistics); voiced sound
Technical term in linguistics for vocal cord vibration; contrasts with unvoiced sounds.
Voiced consonants are consonants accompanied by vocal cord vibration.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉に声をかけるto call out to someone; to speak up to someone
If you see someone in trouble, please speak up to them.
- 声を出すto make one's voice heard; to speak or shout out loud
I was so nervous that I couldn't get my voice out.
- 声が枯れるfor one's voice to become hoarse
I shouted so much at the concert that my voice went hoarse.
- 反対の声が上がるfor voices of opposition to rise up
Voices of opposition rose up against the plan.
- 虫の声を聞くto hear insects chirping
You can hear insects chirping at night.
- 秋の声を聞くto sense the first signs of autumn
The mornings and evenings have gotten cooler, and you can feel the first signs of autumn.
Expressions· 49
- 天の声heavenly voice; voice from heaven · off-the-record instructions; word from on high; influential person's opinion
- 太い声deep voice; rich voice; full voice
- 心の声inner voice; voice of one's heart; what one really thinks
- 甘い声sweet voice; seductive voice
- 生の声real voice; unedited remarks; frank opinions