音

• Reading: おと
• Romaji: oto
• Kanji breakdown: 音 (oto/on) — sound, noise
• Pronunciation: /o.to/

Meaning

Sound; noise. Any audible vibration, from music to environmental sounds.

Refers to sounds in general, both pleasant and unpleasant. Distinguished from 声 (koe), which is specifically a human voice. Common compounds include 音楽 (ongaku, music), 音量 (onryō, volume), and 足音 (ashioto, footsteps). Has two main readings: おと for standalone use and おん in compounds.

Examples

1. 隣の部屋から大きい音が聞こえます。 I can hear a loud sound from the next room.
2. ピアノの音がとてもきれいです。 The sound of the piano is very beautiful.
3. 外の音がうるさくて眠れません。 I can't sleep because the noise outside is too loud.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, music, environment

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 音 depicts sound waves emanating from a mouth or opening, symbolising audible vibration.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal