産声(うぶごえ)

うぶごえ
noun
first cry (of a newborn); birth, inception
1. first cry of a newborn baby
The cry a baby makes immediately after being born. A symbol of new life beginning.
赤(あか)ちゃんが産声(うぶごえ)を上(あ)げた。
The baby let out its first cry.
元気(げんき)な産声(うぶごえ)を聞(き)いて、家族(かぞく)全員(ぜんいん)が涙(なみだ)した。
Hearing the healthy first cry, the whole family shed tears.
分娩室(ぶんべんしつ)から響(ひび)く産声(うぶごえ)に、廊下(ろうか)で待(ま)っていた父親(ちちおや)はほっとした。
The father, who had been waiting in the hallway, felt relieved when the first cry echoed from the delivery room.
2. birth, inception, beginning
Used figuratively to describe the start or emergence of an organization, movement, product, or idea.
この会社(かいしゃ)は東京(とうきょう)で産声(うぶごえ)を上(あ)げた。
This company was born in Tokyo.
新(あたら)しいプロジェクトが産声(うぶごえ)を上(あ)げた。
A new project was launched.
明治時代(めいじじだい)に産声(うぶごえ)を上(あ)げたこの大学(だいがく)は、百年(ひゃくねん)以上(いじょう)の歴史(れきし)を持(も)つ。
Founded in the Meiji era, this university has a history of over one hundred years.

Usage

Almost always appears in the phrase 産声(うぶごえ)を上(あ)げる, which literally means "to raise one's first cry" and figuratively means "to come into existence" or "to be founded." The figurative use (sense 2) is very common in formal writing about companies, organizations, and movements.

Writing

産(うぶ) (birth) + 声(ごえ) (voice/cry). The reading うぶ is a kun'yomi for 産(うぶ) that specifically means "birth" or "newborn."

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.2.25 23:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13536_ubugoe