音(おと)

おと

noun

sound, noise

1. sound, noise

Vibrations that travel through air or other media and can be heard. Includes all kinds of sounds, from music to everyday noises.

何(なん)の音(おと)ですか。

What's that sound?

大(おお)きい音(おと)を聞(き)きました。

I heard a loud sound.

音(おと)を小(ちい)さくしてください。

Please turn down the volume.

外(そと)で大(おお)きい音(おと)がしましたが、何(なに)か分(わ)かりませんでした。

There was a loud sound outside, but I couldn't tell what it was.

夜(よる)静(しず)かな時(とき)に小(ちい)さい音(おと)が聞(き)こえると、ちょっと怖(こわ)いです。何(なに)の音(おと)か分(わ)からないからです。

When I hear small sounds at night when it's quiet, it's a bit scary. It's because I don't know what the sound is.

音(おと) refers to sounds in general, especially non-vocal sounds. Different from 声(こえ) (voice), which specifically refers to sounds made by humans or animals.

Common patterns

音(おと)がする (a sound is heard/made)
音(おと)を立(た)てる (to make a sound)
音(おと)が聞(き)こえる (to be able to hear a sound)
音(おと)を小(ちい)さくする (to turn down the volume)

Compounds

足音(あしおと) (footsteps)
物音(ものおと) (sound of something)
音楽(おんがく) (music)
音声(おんせい) (audio, voice)
騒音(そうおん) (noise, din)
雑音(ざつおん) (static, noise)

Pronunciation

Usually おと, but often おん in compounds: 音量(おんりょう) (volume), 発音(はつおん) (pronunciation).

Similar words

声(こえ): voice (human/animal sounds)
響(ひび)き: resonance, echo

Related Words

Compare: 声(こえ) (voice)

Related: 騒音(そうおん) (noise, din)

Related: 物音(ものおと) (sound of something)

Compare: 響(ひび)き (resonance, echo)

Compare: サウンド (sound, audio)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:40 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

00500/00743_oto