轟とどろ

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

archaic

Archaic adverb describing a loud, deep, reverberating sound such as thunder, waves, or a crowd. In modern Japanese, the onomatopoeic ゴロゴロ or the verb 轟く (とどろく) are more common.

古こ典てんでは「雷かみなりがとどろと鳴なる」のように使つかわれた。
In classical texts, it was used like 'the thunder roars with a rumble.'

See all 4 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

轟とどろと〈動どう詞し〉with a roar/rumble (thunder, waves, etc.)
雷かみなりが轟とどろと鳴なり渡わたった。
The thunder roared and echoed through the sky.

Expressions

名なを轟とどろかせるmake a name for oneself; gain great fame

Kanji

轟roar, thunder, boom resound

Related words

轟とどろく
轟く is the modern verb meaning 'to roar, to reverberate', while 轟 is its archaic adverbial form used before a verb of sound.
ごうごうN1
轟々 is a more commonly used adverb for a loud, continuous roaring sound, whereas 轟 is archaic and rarely seen outside old or literary texts.
ごろごろN3
ゴロゴロ is a common, colloquial onomatopoeia for rumbling or rolling sounds, much more casual and current than the archaic 轟.

Word family

轟とどろく
roar; thunder; boom; rumble; resound · become famous; become well known · pound; throb; palpitate
轟とどろき
roar; rumble; booming · beating; pounding; throbbing
轟とどろき石せき
todorokite
轟とどろかす
make a thundering sound; let resound · make widely known; spread one's name · make one's heart pound; throb; thump

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 轟 is conventionally associated with loud rumbling sounds, and the reading とどろ is related to the verb 轟く (とどろく).