also: きゃー · きゃあ · ぎゃあ · ぎゃー · ぎゃっ
yikes!; eek!; ouch!; wow!; blech
Interjection expressing a sudden strong reaction: surprise, pain, fear, excitement, or disgust. The exact nuance depends on context and intonation.
きゃっ！虫が飛んできた！
Eek! A bug flew at me!
ook; eek (monkey screech)
Only with reading きゃあ
Onomatopoeic representation of a monkey's screech. Restricted to the reading きゃあ.
猿が「きゃあ」と鳴いた。
The monkey screeched 'ook'.
Only with reading きゃあ
Slang term used among thieves to refer to a customer or target. Restricted to the reading きゃあ.
あのきゃあは金を持ってそうだ。
That customer looks like they have money.
きゃっ、やった！プレゼントだ！
Wow, yay! It's a present!
Common hiragana spelling for the interjection expressing surprise, pain, or excitement.
Longer katakana variant, common for screams or excited exclamations.
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in manga.
Longer hiragana form; also used for the monkey screech and slang senses.
Voiced variant, often for louder or more intense screams.
Voiced katakana variant, common in manga for loud screams.
Voiced short katakana variant.
Voiced short variant, less common but possible.
Mimetic word; the interjection imitates a sharp, high-pitched cry. The voiced variants (ぎゃあ etc.) suggest a louder or more guttural sound. The slang sense is likely an extension of the screech meaning, used as a code word.