1.
first cry of a newborn baby
The cry a baby makes immediately after being born. A symbol of new life beginning.
赤ちゃんが産声を上げた。
The baby let out its first cry.
元気な産声を聞いて、家族全員が涙した。
Hearing the healthy first cry, the whole family shed tears.
分娩室から響く産声に、廊下で待っていた父親はほっとした。
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.
この会社は東京で産声を上げた。
This company was born in Tokyo.
新しいプロジェクトが産声を上げた。
A new project was launched.
明治時代に産声を上げたこの大学は、百年以上の歴史を持つ。
Founded in the Meiji era, this university has a history of over one hundred years.
USAGE:
Almost always appears in the phrase 産声を上げる, 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.
KANJI NOTE:
産 (birth) + 声 (voice/cry). The reading うぶ is a kun'yomi for 産 that specifically means "birth" or "newborn."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 産声を上げる: to let out a first cry; to be born/founded
- 元気な産声: a healthy first cry