Japanese word

ほら

Pronunciation

Romajihora

Meaning

  • interjectionlook

Example

ほら、これを見てください。ho ra ko re o mi te ku da sa i

Look at this.

Illustration for ほら (look)

More examples

ほら、雨が降ってきました。ho ra ame ga fu tte ki ma shi ta

Look, it has started to rain.

Core concept

Signals that the speaker is directing attention to something visible, present, or just mentioned.

Common phrases

  • ほら、あそこho ra a so ko

    look over there

Similar words

そらsora: An interjection used to point something out or direct attention toward it.
ほれhore: An informal interjection used when showing or handing something to someone.
おいoi: An interjection used to call a person's attention, often in a direct tone.

Definition in Japanese

相手の注意を引き、目の前のものを示したり、発言を強調したりする気持ちを表す語。ai te no chū i o hi ki me no mae no mo no o shime shi ta ri hatsu gen o kyō chō shi ta ri su ru ki mo chi o arawa su go

Word origin

The exact historical origin of ほら (hora) is uncertain, but it is established as a Japanese interjection used to call attention or point something out.

Usage tips

  • The pattern ほらね (hora ne) commonly follows an outcome and means "see, I told you," giving ほら (hora) a familiar conversational use.

Other meanings

  • heyinterjection
  • seeinterjection
  • hereinterjection
  • thereinterjection

Word lists with this word