1.
to purr (of a cat)
Describes the sound a cat makes when content, vibrating its throat to produce a rumbling purr.
猫が喉を鳴らしている。
The cat is purring.
膝の上で猫が気持ちよさそうに喉を鳴らしていた。
The cat was purring contentedly on my lap.
撫でてやると、喉をゴロゴロ鳴らして喜んだ。
When I petted it, it purred happily.
2.
to smack one's lips; to lick one's lips in anticipation
To make sounds of eager anticipation, especially when seeing or thinking about delicious food.
おいしそうな料理を見て喉を鳴らした。
He smacked his lips at the sight of the delicious-looking food.
焼き肉のにおいがして、思わず喉を鳴らした。
The smell of grilling meat made me involuntarily smack my lips.
ケーキが並んでいるショーケースを見て、子供たちは喉を鳴らした。
The children licked their lips looking at the cakes lined up in the display case.
USAGE:
Sense 1 (purring) is by far the most common usage. The onomatopoeia ゴロゴロ is often added to describe the purring sound: 喉をゴロゴロ鳴らす.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 喉をゴロゴロ鳴らす (to purr with a rumbling sound)
- 気持ちよさそうに喉を鳴らす (to purr contentedly)
RELATED:
- 舌鼓を打つ: to smack one's lips in appreciation of food — a more literary expression for sense 2