Translation guide
The English word 'squeak' covers several distinct sounds: a short high-pitched cry from a small animal or person, a high-pitched noise made by an object (like a door hinge or shoes), and the idiom 'squeak by' meaning to barely succeed. Japanese expresses these with different onomatopoeia and verbs.
A short, sharp, high-pitched sound made by a small animal (mouse, bird) or a person (child, surprised adult).
The standard onomatopoeia for a mouse's squeak. Often used with the verb 鳴く (なく).
ネズミがチューチュー鳴いている。
The mouse is squeaking.
A high-pitched squeak or screech, often for monkeys, bats, or excited children. Can sound more piercing than チューチュー.
サルがキーキー鳴いている。
The monkey is squeaking.
子供たちがキーキー騒いでいる。
The children are squealing.
A squeak or peep, often for baby birds or small animals. Also used for a whistle sound.
ひながピーピー鳴いている。
The chick is squeaking/peeping.
A short squeak or yelp of surprise or fear from a person, often female.
彼女はネズミを見て「キャッ」と叫んだ。
She squeaked when she saw the mouse.
A squeaking sound made by a door hinge, floorboard, shoes, or a toy.
Used for a sustained squeaking noise, like a rusty hinge or brakes. Often paired with 音 (おと) or verb 鳴る (なる).
ドアがキーキー音を立てる。
The door squeaks.
床板がキーキー鳴る。
The floorboard squeaks.
A short, repeated squeak, like rubber soles on a floor or a wet finger on glass. Often used with 音 or 鳴る.
新しい靴がキュッキュッと鳴る。
The new shoes squeak.
A lower, grating squeak, like a heavy door or old machinery. Similar to キーキー but with a heavier, more grating nuance.
古い門がギーギー音を立てて開いた。
The old gate opened with a squeak.
To barely manage to pass, win, or survive by a small margin.
A common adverbial phrase meaning 'barely' or 'narrowly'. Used with verbs like 合格する (pass an exam), 勝つ (win), 間に合う (be in time).
彼はかろうじて試験に合格した。
He squeaked through the exam.
私たちはかろうじて終電に間に合った。
We squeaked onto the last train.
Means 'just barely' or 'by a hair's breadth'. Often used for time limits or close calls.
ぎりぎりで締め切りに間に合った。
I squeaked in just before the deadline.
A more formal/literary version of かろうじて. Used in writing or formal speech.
チームは辛うじて勝利を収めた。
The team squeaked out a victory.
English sometimes uses 'squeak' for a person speaking in a high-pitched voice (e.g., 'she squeaked a reply'). In Japanese, this is usually expressed with 上ずった声 (うわずったこえ, strained high voice) or simply 高い声 (たかいこえ, high voice), not onomatopoeia like キーキー, which would sound like an animal or object.