金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)

かなきりごえ
noun
shrill voice; piercing scream; shriek
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.
隣(となり)の部屋(へや)から金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)が聞(き)こえてきて驚(おどろ)いた。
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:

  • 金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)を上(あ)げる: to let out a shrill scream
  • 金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)で叫(さけ)ぶ: to scream shrilly
  • 金切(かなき)り声(ごえ)が響(ひび)く: a piercing voice echoes

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 TERMS:

  • 叫(さけ)び声(ごえ): a scream, a shout
  • 悲鳴(ひめい): a scream of distress
  • 甲高(かんだか)い声(こえ): a shrill, high-pitched voice
general
Added 2026.4.8 2:05
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