金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)

かなきりごえ
noun
shrill voice; piercing scream; shriek
communication
1. shrill voice; piercing scream; shriek
An extremely high-pitched, piercing voice or scream, often associated with fear or distress.
金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)を上(あ)げた。
She let out a shrill scream.
子(こ)どもが金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)で泣(な)いている。
The child is crying with a shrill voice.
I was startled by a piercing scream coming from the next room.

A high-pitched, piercing voice or scream. The 金切(かなき)り part literally means "metal-cutting" — evoking the sharp, ear-splitting sound of metal being sawed or scraped.

Common collocations

Usage

Used to describe an extremely high-pitched, unpleasant voice, often associated with screaming in fear, anger, or distress. It carries a somewhat negative nuance — it is not used for pleasant high-pitched sounds.

Related words