Japanese Conversation · Level 29
90 words
Japanese word
ささやく
Pronunciation
Romajisasayaku
Meaning
- verbwhisper
Example
彼は私に小さな声でささやきました。kare wa watashi ni chii sa na koe de sa sa ya ki ma shi ta
He whispered to me.
More examples
彼女は子どもに安心するように優しくささやきました。kano jo wa ko do mo ni an shin su ru yō ni yasa shi ku sa sa ya ki ma shi ta
She whispered gently to reassure the child.
Core concept
It means communicating words through a soft, quiet voice that limits who can hear them.
Common phrases
小声でささやくko goe de sa sa ya ku
whisper softly
耳元でささやくmimi moto de sa sa ya ku
whisper in someone's ear
秘密をささやくhi mitsu o sa sa ya ku
whisper a secret
Similar words
呟くtsubuyaku: To speak quietly, often to oneself, without clearly addressing another person.
耳打ちするmimiuchisuru: To speak very quietly into someone's ear, usually to keep the words private.
Definition in Japanese
周囲に聞こえないように声を低くして話す。shū i ni ki ko e na i yō ni koe o hiku ku shi te hana su
Word origin
The Japanese native verb ささやく (sasayaku, "to whisper") forms the noun ささやき (sasayaki, "a whisper"), but its original parts cannot be explained with certainty.
Usage tips
- In English, whisper can describe both private speech and a quiet sound, so it is useful for describing voices that are meant to avoid being heard widely.