ざわめき

noun

commotion; murmur; bustle

sound

1. commotion, murmur, bustle

The combined sound of many people talking, moving, or reacting at once. A low, unsettled buzz of activity or chatter.

会場(かいじょう)にざわめきが広(ひろ)がった。

A murmur spread through the venue.

教室(きょうしつ)のざわめきが静(しず)まった。

The commotion in the classroom died down.

発表(はっぴょう)の瞬間(しゅんかん)、観客(かんきゃく)のざわめきが一斉(いっせい)に歓声(かんせい)に変(か)わった。

The moment of the announcement, the murmur of the audience turned into cheers all at once.

ざわめき is the noun form of ざわめく (to murmur, to buzz with activity). It describes the collective sound and atmosphere when many people are talking, reacting, or moving about.

Common collocations

ざわめきが広(ひろ)がる: a murmur spreads
ざわめきが静(しず)まる: the commotion dies down
ざわめきが起(お)きる: a stir arises
街(まち)のざわめき: the bustle of the city
教室(きょうしつ)のざわめき: classroom chatter

Related onomatopoeia

Derived from ざわざわ, which evokes the sound and feel of restless commotion or unease. ざわめき is the more literary noun form.

Similar words

ざわめき: murmur, buzz (of people, literary)
がやがや: noisy chatter (more casual, louder)
騒(さわ)ぎ: commotion, disturbance (stronger, implies disruption)
喧騒(けんそう): clamor, din (formal/literary)

Register

Slightly literary. Common in narrative prose, news, and descriptive writing.

Related Words

Related: ざわざわ (rustling, uneasy feeling)

Compare: 騒(さわ)ぎ (commotion, disturbance)

Compare: 喧騒(けんそう) (clamor, din)

general

Added 2026.2.7 17:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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