faint voice; thin voice; tiny voice
Idiomatic expression comparing a voice to the faint buzzing of a mosquito. Used to describe a voice that is very weak, thin, or barely audible, often due to nervousness, illness, or old age.
I was so nervous that only a tiny voice came out.
The old woman said "thank you" in a faint voice.
A general description of a quiet voice, without the idiomatic, figurative nuance of being as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Describes a thin, feeble voice, similar in meaning but more direct and less colorful than the mosquito simile.
Standard kanji spelling for this set phrase.
Variant using 泣く (cry) instead of 鳴く (chirp/buzz); less common but still encountered.
Variant using 様 (よう) in kanji; somewhat literary or old-fashioned.
A set phrase literally meaning 'a voice like a mosquito's buzzing/crying'. The comparison to a mosquito's faint sound has been used idiomatically in Japanese to describe a very weak or thin voice.