1.
echo, reverberation
Sound that bounces back from a surface; the physical phenomenon of sound reflection.
洞窟で反響がした。
There was an echo in the cave.
声が壁に反響した。
The voice echoed off the walls.
空っぽの体育館で足音が反響して聞こえた。
Footsteps echoed through the empty gymnasium.
2.
response, reaction, repercussion, feedback
The reaction or response that something evokes from people. Often used for public reaction to news, announcements, or artistic works.
大きな反響を呼ぶ
to evoke a big response
その発表は予想以上の反響があった。
The announcement received a greater response than expected.
SNSでの反響を見ると、この映画は若者に人気があるようだ。
Looking at the response on social media, this movie seems popular with young people.
USAGE: Sense 2 (reaction/response) is more commonly used than sense 1 (physical echo). Often used to describe public reaction to media, announcements, or events.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 反響を呼ぶ (to evoke a response)
- 反響がある (there is a response)
- 大きな/予想以上の反響 (big/bigger-than-expected response)
- 反響を呼び起こす (to generate a response)
RELATED WORDS:
- 響き (resonance, echo)
- 木霊 (echo - especially in nature)
- 反応 (reaction - more general/scientific)