ガンガン

が

ん

が

ん

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

clanging; banging; booming; loudly

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a loud, resonant, metallic or explosive sound, often repetitive.

工こう事じ現げん場ばで鉄てっ骨こつがガンガンとぶつかる音おとがする。
At the construction site, there is a loud clanging sound of steel beams hitting each other.

隣となりの部屋へやからガンガン音おん楽がくが聞きこえてくる。

Loud booming music is coming from the next room.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

throbbing; pounding; splitting (headache)

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Used for a severe, pulsating headache or similar intense internal pain. Can be used with する to describe the state.

二ふつ日か酔よいで頭あたまがガンガンする。
My head is throbbing from a hangover.
風邪かぜのせいで頭あたまがガンガン痛いたむ。
My head is pounding because of a cold.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

vigorously; hard; flat out; fully

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordcolloquial

Colloquial use for doing something with great energy, intensity, or without holding back.

今日きょうは一いち日にち中じゅうガンガン働はたらいた。
I worked flat out all day today.
クーラーをガンガンにかけて涼すずもう。
Let's turn the air conditioner on full blast and cool down.

Written forms

ガンガンUsage81%
Common katakana spelling for this onomatopoeic word.
がんがんUsage19%
Hiragana spelling, also frequently used.

Similar words

どんどん
どんどん also describes loud banging sounds or doing something steadily/rapidly, but ガンガン often implies a more metallic, resonant noise or a more intense, aggressive action.
バンバン
バンバン is similar for banging sounds or doing something vigorously, but ガンガン tends to be heavier, louder, or more pounding.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic word mimicking a loud, resonant, metallic or pounding sound. The exact derivation is uncertain, but it is a typical reduplicative mimetic form.