掛(か)け声(ごえ)

かけごえ
noun
shout, rallying cry
communication
1. shout, yell, rallying cry, call
A loud call or shout used to encourage, coordinate action, or boost morale. Common in group activities, sports, and traditional arts.
「よいしょ！」と掛(か)け声(ごえ)をかけた。
I called out 'Heave-ho!'
チームの掛(か)け声(ごえ)で士気(しき)が上(あ)がった。
The team's rallying cry raised morale.
掛(か)け声(ごえ)だけで終(お)わらず、実行(じっこう)に移(うつ)すことが大切(たいせつ)だ。
It's important not to stop at just words but to put them into action.

Etymology

掛(か)け (to call out) + 声(ごえ) (voice). Literally "calling voice."

Usage

Used in many contexts: sports cheers, group labor ("heave-ho!"), martial arts shouts (気合(きあ)い), and kabuki audience calls. The phrase 掛(か)け声(ごえ)をかける means "to shout/call out."

The idiomatic expression 掛(か)け声(ごえ)だけ or 掛(か)け声(ごえ)倒(だお)れ means "all talk and no action" — making bold declarations without following through.

Common collocations

  • 掛(か)け声(ごえ)をかける: to shout, to call out
  • 掛(か)け声(ごえ)に合(あ)わせる: to move in time with the call
  • 掛(か)け声(ごえ)倒(だお)れ: all talk, no action
  • 掛(か)け声(ごえ)で始(はじ)める: to start with a shout
general
Added 2026.2.8 13:54 · Revised 2026.10.10 15:54
10500/10571_kakegoe