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がたん (gatan) Japanese meaning: with a bang | Kotomora

がたん

が

た

ん

JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

adverb taking the 'to' particle

with a bang; with a crash; with a bump; with a jolt

onomatopoeic or mimetic word›

Describes a sudden, loud impact or collision sound, like something heavy falling or hitting a surface.

本ほん

棚だな

が

がたん

と

倒たお

れ

た

。

The bookshelf fell with a crash.

車くるまががたんと揺ゆれた。

The car jolted with a bump.

2

adverb taking the 'to' particle

suddenly (fall); sharply

onomatopoeic or mimetic word›

Emphasizes an abrupt, sharp change or movement, often a sudden drop or decline.

気き温おんががたんと下さがった。
The temperature dropped sharply.
売うり上あげががたんと落おちた。
Sales suddenly plummeted.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉ががたんと落おちるfor something to fall with a bang
本ほん棚だなから本ほんががたんと落おちた。
A book fell off the bookshelf with a bang.
〈数かず〉ががたんと落おちるfor a figure/level to drop sharply
先せん月げつから売うり上あげががたんと落おちた。
Sales have dropped sharply since last month.
がたんと音おとがするto hear a sudden banging/clattering sound
隣となりの部屋へやでがたんと音おとがした。
There was a loud bang from the next room.
電でん車しゃががたんと揺ゆれるfor a train (or vehicle) to lurch with a jolt
電でん車しゃが急きゅうに止とまってがたんと揺ゆれた。
The train stopped suddenly and jolted with a bang.

Related words

がたっと sense 1
がたっと has a geminate っ that makes the sound feel lighter and more abrupt than がたん, which sounds heavier and more resonant.
がくんとN1sense 2
がくんと emphasizes a sudden jerking motion or drop (like a vehicle lurching), while がたん in this sense focuses on an abrupt sharp decline, often of numbers.
ドシン sense 1
どしん describes a heavier, muffled thud, whereas がたん suggests a sharper, more metallic or structural clatter.
ガタガタN1
ガタン describes one sharp, single clatter, while ガタガタ describes a repeated or continuous rattling.

Don't confuse with

ばったりN3
がたん describes a sharp, metallic clatter, while ばったり suggests a heavier, duller thud or, in another sense, a chance meeting.
バタン
ガタン describes a lighter, sharper clattering sound, while バタン describes a heavier, more muffled slam or thud.

Word family

がたんごとん
clickety-clack; clatter

Written forms

がたんUsage31%
Standard hiragana spelling for this onomatopoeic adverb.
ガタンUsage69%
Katakana spelling, often used for emphasis or in manga.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic word mimicking the sound of a heavy impact or sudden jolt. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a conventional mimetic expression in Japanese.