響(ひび)き

ひびき
noun
sound; echo; reverberation; ring
literary
1. sound; echo; reverberation
A sound that resonates or echoes.
鐘(かね)の響(ひび)きが遠(とお)くまで聞(き)こえた。
The sound of the bell could be heard from far away.
ピアノの響(ひび)きが美(うつく)しい。
The sound of the piano is beautiful.
花火(はなび)の響(ひび)きが夜空(よぞら)に広(ひろ)がった。
The booming of the fireworks spread across the night sky.
2. ring; tone; nuance
The quality or impression of a sound or word.
この言葉(ことば)には優(やさ)しい響(ひび)きがある。
This word has a gentle ring to it.
「自由(じゆう)」という言葉(ことば)の響(ひび)きが好(す)きだ。
I like the ring of the word 'freedom.'
この名前(なまえ)は外国語(がいこくご)のような響(ひび)きがある。
This name has a foreign-sounding ring to it.

響(ひび)き is the noun form of the verb 響(ひび)く (to resound), referring to sounds, echoes, and the impression they create.

Common patterns

  • ～の響(ひび)き (the sound/ring of ~)
  • 響(ひび)きがある (to have a ring/resonance)
  • 響(ひび)きが良(よ)い (to sound good)

Usage for words

響(ひび)き can describe how a word or name "sounds" or the impression it gives. For example:

Similar words

  • 響(ひび)き vs. 音(おと): 音(おと) is a general word for sound; 響(ひび)き specifically refers to resonating or echoing sounds, or the quality/impression of sound.

Register: Neutral to slightly literary. Often used when describing the aesthetic quality of sounds.

Related Words

Related: 響(ひび)く (verb form)
Related: 音(おと) (sound)
Related: 反響(はんきょう) (echo, reverberation)
Related: 響(ひび)かせる (to make resound)
general
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
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