甲高(かんだか)い

かんだかい
i-adjective
shrill, high-pitched
1. shrill, high-pitched, piercing
Describes a sound that is unpleasantly sharp and high in pitch. Used for voices, screams, laughter, and other sounds that stand out because of their sharp, piercing quality.
甲高(かんだか)い声(こえ)が聞(き)こえた。
I heard a shrill voice.
子(こ)どもたちの甲高(かんだか)い笑(わら)い声(ごえ)が公園(こうえん)に響(ひび)いていた。
The children's shrill laughter echoed through the park.
隣(となり)の部屋(へや)から甲高(かんだか)い悲鳴(ひめい)が聞(き)こえてきたので、慌(あわ)てて様子(ようす)を見(み)に行(い)った。
I heard a piercing scream from the next room, so I rushed to check what was going on.

USAGE:
Almost exclusively used to describe sounds, especially voices and screams. Carries a slightly negative connotation — the sound is not just high, but piercingly so.

FORMS:

  • Adverbial: 甲高(かんだか)く
  • Noun form: not commonly used

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 甲高(かんだか)い声(こえ) (shrill voice)
  • 甲高(かんだか)い笑(わら)い声(ごえ) (shrill laughter)
  • 甲高(かんだか)い悲鳴(ひめい) (piercing scream)
  • 甲高(かんだか)く叫(さけ)ぶ (to scream shrilly)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 高(たか)い: high (general — pitch, height, price; neutral in tone)
  • 鋭(するど)い: sharp, keen (describes quality of sound or sensation, not specifically pitch)
  • 耳障(みみざわ)り: grating, unpleasant to the ear (focuses on the listener's discomfort)
general
Added 2026.2.25 23:27
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