Japanese word

物音

Pronunciation

Romajimonooto

Meaning

  • nounnoise, sound

Example

夜中に物音がして、目が覚めました。yo naka ni mono oto ga shi te me ga sa me ma shi ta

A noise woke me up in the middle of the night.

Illustration for 物音 (noise)

More examples

家の中で物音がしました。ie no naka de mono oto ga shi ma shi ta

There was a sound inside the house.

廊下から物音がしたので、見に行きました。rō ka ka ra mono oto ga shi ta no de mi ni i ki ma shi ta

I went to look because I heard a noise in the hallway.

Core concept

Presents a heard sound as a sign that something nearby is moving or happening.

Common phrases

  • 物音がするmono oto ga su ru

    hear a noise

  • 物音を立てるmono oto o ta te ru

    make a noise

  • 物音に気づくmono oto ni ki zu ku

    notice a noise

Similar words

音oto: A sound that can be heard without implying a particular source or event.
騒音sōon: A loud or unwanted sound that disturbs people or the surrounding environment.

Definition in Japanese

物が動くなどして聞こえてくる、周囲の何かの存在を感じさせる音。mono ga ugo ku na do shi te ki ko e te ku ru shū i no nan ka no son zai o kan ji sa se ru oto

Word origin

This native Japanese compound joins 物 (mono, "thing") with 音 (oto, "sound"), linking a sound to something that produces it.

Usage tips

  • English speakers can use noise for an unclear or unwanted sound, so 物音 (monooto) often translates as noise when the source is not identified.

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