囁く

• Reading: ささやく
• Romaji: sasayaku
• Kanji breakdown: 囁 (shō/sasaya) — whisper, murmur
• Pronunciation: /sa.sa.ja.kɯ/

Meaning

To whisper; to murmur; to speak softly. Used for quiet, intimate, or secretive speech.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb describing speaking in a very low, soft voice. Used for intimate conversations, sharing secrets, and figuratively for rumours circulating quietly. Also used poetically for the gentle sounds of nature, such as wind or water.

Examples

1. 彼女は隣の席の友達に何かを囁いた。 She whispered something to her friend sitting next to her.
2. 風が木の葉に囁くように吹いていた。 The wind was blowing through the leaves as if whispering.
3. 業界では経営危機が囁かれている。 There are whispers in the industry of a financial crisis.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, daily life, figurative speech

Tone: quiet

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 囁 combines 口 (mouth) repeated three times with 耳 (ear), vividly depicting the act of mouths speaking quietly into ears — the very essence of whispering.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal