かんかん
かんかん
na-adjective, adverb, onomatopoeia
furious; scorching; clanging
1.
furious, livid
Extremely angry. Used to describe someone who is visibly enraged.
母はかんかんだ。
Mom is furious.
遅刻して、先生にかんかんに怒られた。
I was late and got furiously scolded by the teacher.
約束を破ったので、彼女はかんかんに怒っている。
She's absolutely livid because he broke his promise.
2.
scorching, blazing
Describes intense, beating heat from the sun.
かんかん照りの日。
A scorching sunny day.
真夏のかんかん照りの中を歩いた。
I walked in the blazing midsummer sun.
太陽がかんかんに照りつけて、アスファルトが熱くなっていた。
The sun was blazing down and the asphalt had become hot.
3.
clanging, banging
The sound of metal being struck repeatedly.
鉄をかんかん叩く。
To clang away at iron.
踏切の警報がかんかん鳴っている。
The railroad crossing alarm is clanging.
工事現場からかんかんという金属音が聞こえてきた。
A clanging metallic sound could be heard from the construction site.
USAGE:
The three meanings of かんかん are distinct and context makes clear which is intended.
Sense 1 (furious) most commonly appears in the pattern かんかんに怒る. It can also be used as a na-adjective predicate: かんかんだ.
Sense 2 (scorching) almost always appears in the fixed expression かんかん照り (blazing sunshine).
Sense 3 (clanging) is onomatopoeic, representing the sound of metal being struck.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- かんかんに怒る: to be furious
- かんかん照り: blazing sunshine
- かんかん鳴る: to clang