ささやき

さ

や

き

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the act or sound of speaking very quietly, often to avoid being overheard. Can also imply secret or intimate talk.

隣となりの席せきからささやきが聞きこえた。
I could hear whispering from the next seat.
彼かの女じょは彼かれの耳みみ元もとで愛あいのささやきをした。
She whispered words of love into his ear.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Kanji

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

Related words

小こ声ごえ
ささやき specifically means a whisper, often with a secretive or intimate feel, whereas 小声 more broadly just means speaking quietly.
つぶやき
つぶやき is a low, often self-directed mutter, while ささやき is a whisper deliberately aimed at someone else.

Opposites

叫さけびN1
叫び is a loud shout or scream, while 囁き is a soft whisper, the opposite end of the volume scale.

Word family

私語ささやきごと
whisper; whispering; secret talk

Written forms

ささやきUsage57%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 囁き is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
囁きUsage43%
- ささやき
  Kanji form is uncommon and may be unfamiliar; the reading つつやき is obsolete.
- つつやき
  out-dated reading
私語ささやき
Ateji or alternative kanji form; rarely used and may be confused with 私語 (しご, private talk).
つつやき
out-dated reading

Etymology

Noun form of the verb ささやく (to whisper), of native Japanese origin. The kanji 囁 is a kokuji (Japanese-created character) combining 口 (mouth) and 聶 (whisper), but the word itself is not derived from Chinese.