Japanese word

足音

Pronunciation

Romajiashioto

Meaning

  • nounfootsteps

Example

廊下から足音が聞こえます。rō ka ka ra ashi oto ga ki ko e ma su

I can hear footsteps coming from the hallway.

Illustration for 足音 (footsteps)

More examples

雨の日は、校舎の中で足音がいつもより響きます。ame no hi wa kō sha no naka de ashi oto ga i tsu mo yo ri hibi ki ma su

On rainy days, footsteps echo more than usual inside the school building.

Core concept

Describes the rhythmic sound produced as someone's feet touch the ground or another surface while walking.

Common phrases

  • 足音が響くashi oto ga hibi ku

    footsteps echo

  • 足音を立てるashi oto o ta te ru

    make a noise while walking

  • 足音を忍ばせるashi oto o shino ba se ru

    walk quietly

Similar words

靴音kutsuoto: The sound made by shoes as a person walks, often emphasizing the footwear.
跫音kyōon: A literary term for the sound of a person's footsteps.

Definition in Japanese

人が歩くときに足を地面や床などに触れさせて立てる音。hito ga aru ku to ki ni ashi o ji men ya yuka na do ni fu re sa se te ta te ru oto

Word origin

足音 (ashioto) is a compound of 足 (ashi, "foot") and 音 (oto, "sound"), so its form directly connects feet with the sounds they make.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 足音が聞こえる (ashioto ga kikoeru) focuses on the sound becoming audible, while the person making it can remain unknown.

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