ホーホケキョ

ほーほけきょ
adverb, onomatopoeia
hōhokekyo (bush warbler's call)
onomatopoeianatureanimal-bird
1. hōhokekyo; the distinctive call of the Japanese bush warbler
The onomatopoeic representation of the call of the 鶯(うぐいす) (Japanese bush warbler). This call is strongly associated with spring and is one of the most iconic bird sounds in Japanese culture.
鶯(うぐいす)がホーホケキョと鳴(な)いた。
The bush warbler called "hōhokekyo."
山道(やまみち)を歩(ある)いていると、どこからかホーホケキョという声(こえ)が聞(き)こえてきた。
As I walked along the mountain path, I heard the sound of "hōhokekyo" from somewhere.
春(はる)の朝(あさ)、庭(にわ)から鶯(うぐいす)のホーホケキョという声(こえ)が聞(き)こえると、季節(きせつ)の変(か)わり目(め)を感(かん)じる。
On a spring morning, when I hear the bush warbler's "hōhokekyo" from the garden, I feel the change of seasons.

The iconic call of the 鶯(うぐいす) (Japanese bush warbler), transcribed as ホーホケキョ in Japanese. Hearing this call is considered a sign that spring has arrived.

Cultural note

  • 鶯(うぐいす)の鳴(な)き声(こえ): the song of the bush warbler
  • 初音(はつね): the first call of the bush warbler in a new year — a traditional seasonal topic
  • 鶯(うぐいす)は春告鳥(はるつげどり): the bush warbler is the "spring-herald bird"

Related bird sounds

Related Words

Related: チュンチュン (chirping of sparrows)
Related: カーカー (cawing of crows)
Related: コケコッコー (cock-a-doodle-doo)
general
Added 2026.6.10 21:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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