Translation guide
Describes a voice that is high-pitched, piercing, and often unpleasant or startling. Japanese has several onomatopoeic and descriptive terms that capture different nuances of shrillness.
To describe a voice that is sharp, high, and cuts through noise, often startling or unpleasant.
The most common and neutral way to say 'shrill voice'. It literally means 'high-pitched voice' and can be used for both people and sounds.
彼女の甲高い声が部屋中に響いた。
Her shrill voice echoed throughout the room.
子供の甲高い声で目が覚めた。
I was woken up by the shrill voices of children.
To express that someone's voice becomes shrill because of a strong emotion.
Literally 'voice flips over', meaning the voice cracks or becomes shrill due to nervousness, excitement, or anger. It describes the involuntary change in pitch.
緊張して声が裏返ってしまった。
I got nervous and my voice went shrill.
甲高い声 is a general term for a high-pitched voice and can be neutral. 金切り声 specifically implies an unpleasant, ear-piercing quality, often associated with screaming. Use 金切り声 when you want to emphasize the negative, startling aspect.
The English word 'shrill' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Translating it as 鋭い声 (するどいこえ, 'sharp voice') is not natural. Use the options above depending on the context.
Specifically means a 'shrill, ear-piercing scream or voice', often associated with anger, fear, or extreme excitement. It has a more negative connotation than 甲高い声.
彼は金切り声を上げて怒り出した。
He started shouting in a shrill voice out of anger.
ホラー映画で女優が金切り声をあげた。
The actress let out a shrill scream in the horror movie.
Literally 'yellow voice', this is an idiomatic expression for the high-pitched, excited screams of fans (especially female fans) at concerts or events. It's not necessarily unpleasant, but very shrill.
アイドルが登場すると、会場から黄色い声が上がった。
When the idol appeared, shrill cheers erupted from the audience.
An onomatopoeic term mimicking a metallic, high-pitched, ringing voice. It emphasizes the piercing, almost painful quality of the sound.
彼のキンキン声は頭に響く。
His shrill, ringing voice gets on my nerves.
Describes a loud, piercing, and often alarming voice or sound. It implies a sense of urgency or disturbance, like a shrill alarm or scream.
夜中にけたたましい声が聞こえた。
I heard a shrill voice in the middle of the night.
Literally 'to sharpen one's voice', meaning to speak in a sharp, shrill tone, often when angry or irritated.
彼は声を尖らせて反論した。
He objected in a shrill voice.