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B1 Noun #21 よく出る 12分で読める

thump

上位21

練習する例文メモとヒント thump 30秒で

解説 thump in your Level:

At the A1 level, a 'thump' is a simple word for a big sound. Think about when a heavy toy falls on the floor. It makes a 'thump!' It is not a small sound like a 'click.' It is a big, heavy sound. You can hear a thump when you drop a big book. You can hear a thump when a door closes hard. Sometimes, if you run fast, you can feel a 'thump thump thump' in your chest. That is your heart. It is a very easy word to use when something heavy hits something else. You can say, 'I heard a thump.' This tells people that something fell or something hit the floor. It is a good word for basic stories about home or school. You don't need to use big words; just say 'thump' for that heavy sound. It helps people understand that the object was not light like a feather, but heavy like a bag.

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For A2 learners, 'thump' is a useful noun to describe accidents or everyday noises. It's a 'heavy, dull sound.' Imagine you are in your kitchen and you hear a noise from the living room. You might say, 'There was a loud thump in the other room.' This means something heavy fell down. You can also use it for physical actions. If you hit a table with your hand to get someone's attention, that is a thump. It's a common word in simple stories. For example, 'The cat jumped from the cupboard and landed with a thump.' It helps you give more detail than just saying 'noise.' It tells the listener about the weight of the object. You can also use it for your heart when you are excited or a little bit scared: 'My heart gave a thump when I saw the dog.' It's a singular, strong beat.

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At the B1 level, you should understand 'thump' as both a sound and a physical impact. It is a 'heavy, dull sound made by an object falling or hitting another.' You can use it to add sensory detail to your writing. Instead of saying 'The box fell,' you can say 'The box hit the floor with a heavy thump.' This makes your English sound more natural and descriptive. You will also encounter 'thump' in the context of music, especially the 'thump of the bass.' This refers to the low, heavy beat you feel in your body. It is also used for a singular, heavy blow with a fist. For example, 'He gave the door a thump to see if it was solid.' It's important to distinguish it from 'thud' (which is even softer) and 'bang' (which is much sharper). B1 learners should be able to use it in various contexts, from describing a heartbeat to a mechanical noise.

At the B2 level, 'thump' becomes a tool for creating atmosphere and nuance. You should recognize its onomatopoeic quality—the word itself sounds like the impact. In literature or more advanced storytelling, a 'thump' can signal a shift in mood. 'A dull thump from the basement broke the silence of the evening.' Here, the word choice suggests something heavy and perhaps ominous. You should also be comfortable with its use in describing physical sensations of the body, such as the 'rhythmic thump of blood in the ears' after heavy exercise. B2 learners should also be aware of common collocations like 'sickening thump' or 'distant thump.' You can use it to describe the quality of a sound in a more technical way, such as the 'thump of a car door closing,' which engineers actually study to make cars feel more expensive and solid. It's about the weight and the lack of resonance.

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For C1 learners, 'thump' is used with precision to evoke specific textures and weights. You might use it metaphorically to describe a heavy realization or a sudden emotional blow: 'The news hit him with the physical thump of a heavy weight.' You should be able to distinguish 'thump' from a wide array of similar sounds like 'clonk,' 'wallop,' 'plunk,' or 'thwack,' choosing the one that perfectly fits the material and force involved. In C1 level writing, 'thump' can be used to describe the cadence of prose or the heavy, driving rhythm of a poem. You should also be aware of its informal use in certain dialects, such as the British English use of 'thump' to mean a punch or a hit. Understanding the subtle difference between a 'thump' and a 'thud'—where a thump often implies a more active strike and a thud a more passive fall—is key to achieving a high level of descriptive accuracy.

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At the C2 level, 'thump' is a nuanced element of a sophisticated vocabulary. You can use it to explore the physics of sound or the psychology of perception. In a C2 context, you might analyze how the 'thump' of a heartbeat in a film's soundtrack manipulates the audience's physiological response. You can use the word in highly specialized ways, perhaps in a critique of a musical performance where the 'thump' of the percussion was either too dominant or perfectly grounded. Metaphorically, you might describe the 'thump of history' or the 'thump of reality' to convey a sense of unavoidable, heavy impact. You should have a complete grasp of its various registers, from the visceral, comic-book 'THUMP!' to the clinical description of a precordial thump in a medical journal. At this level, the word is not just a label for a sound, but a precise instrument for conveying weight, impact, and the absence of resonance in both physical and abstract worlds.

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練習する例文メモとヒント

thump 30秒で

A thump is a heavy, dull sound made by an impact, often associated with weight and a lack of resonance or ringing.
It can describe the sound of a falling object, a physical blow with a fist, or a single strong heartbeat.
Commonly used with adjectives like 'dull,' 'heavy,' or 'rhythmic' to provide sensory detail in descriptions of accidents or music.
As a noun, it captures the singular event of a low-frequency noise, distinguishing it from sharper sounds like bangs or clicks.

The word thump serves as a vivid auditory and tactile noun in the English language, primarily describing a heavy, dull sound that lacks the sharp resonance of a metallic ring or the high-pitched snap of a crack. When you hear a thump, your brain immediately registers a collision between two solid, often somewhat soft or non-vibrating objects. Imagine a thick, hardcover dictionary falling from a mahogany desk onto a carpeted floor; that specific, muffled 'whump' or 'thud' is the essence of a thump. It is a low-frequency sound, one that you often feel in your chest as much as you hear with your ears. This physical sensation is why the word is so frequently associated with the human heart. When a person is startled, anxious, or profoundly in love, they might describe a 'thump' in their chest—a singular, heavy beat that stands out from the regular rhythm.

Acoustic Profile: A low-pitched, non-reverberating impact sound caused by heavy mass meeting a surface.

Beyond the auditory, a thump can also refer to the physical blow itself. If someone strikes a table with a closed fist to emphasize a point, the action is a thump, and the resulting noise is also a thump. This dual nature—the act and the sound—makes it a versatile tool for writers. In literature, a thump often signals a sudden change in atmosphere or the arrival of something substantial. It is the sound of a heavy package being dropped on a porch, the sound of a bird hitting a windowpane, or the sound of a tail hitting the floor when a large dog is happy to see its owner.

The silence of the library was suddenly broken by the heavy thump of a fallen encyclopedia.

In casual conversation, we use 'thump' to describe clumsy movements or accidental drops. It conveys a sense of weight and lack of grace. If you hear a thump from the upstairs bedroom, you might assume a child has fallen out of bed or a heavy suitcase has been moved. It is rarely a 'pretty' sound; it is functional, grounded, and unmistakably physical.

Emotional Resonance: Often used to describe the physical manifestation of fear, excitement, or sudden realization within the body.

With every thump of the bass drum, the windows in the old house rattled.

He felt a sudden thump against his shoulder as the backpack slipped.

The cat landed with a soft thump on the duvet.

The boxer delivered a powerful thump to the heavy bag.

Synonym Contrast: Unlike a 'clatter' (multiple sharp sounds) or a 'crash' (destructive sound), a 'thump' is usually a singular, contained event.

Understanding 'thump' requires an appreciation for the mundane sounds of daily life—the rhythm of walking in heavy boots, the closing of a car door, or the impact of a fist on a wooden door. It is a word that brings texture and weight to descriptions, allowing the reader or listener to feel the gravity of the object being described.

Using the noun thump effectively requires placing it in contexts where weight and sound intersect. It often follows verbs of perception like 'heard,' 'felt,' or 'noticed.' For instance, 'I heard a loud thump coming from the attic' immediately creates a sense of mystery or concern. The adjective 'dull' is perhaps the most common companion for thump, as it emphasizes the lack of sharpness in the sound. You might write, 'The book hit the floor with a dull thump,' which provides a much clearer sensory image than simply saying it fell.

Verb Pairings: Common verbs include: give, deliver, hear, feel, echo, resonate.

When describing physical actions, 'thump' can be the result of a deliberate act. 'He gave the vending machine a solid thump to get his snack to drop.' Here, the noun describes the physical strike. In more figurative or internal descriptions, 'thump' is indispensable for heart-related imagery. 'Her heart gave a nervous thump when the phone rang.' This usage moves away from external acoustics and into internal sensation, yet the core meaning of a 'heavy, singular impact' remains.

The giant's footsteps were marked by a rhythmic thump that shook the ground.

You can also use 'thump' to describe the sound of machinery or music. 'The steady thump of the washing machine was the only sound in the house.' In this case, it suggests a repetitive, heavy mechanical movement. When describing music, particularly electronic or dance music, 'thump' refers to the heavy bass line that you can feel vibrating in the floor. 'The thump of the club music could be heard from two blocks away.'

Adjective Modifiers: Common adjectives: heavy, dull, rhythmic, distant, sudden, sickening, soft, hollow.

There was a sickening thump as the two cars collided at low speed.

She gave the pillow a final thump to fluff it up before bed.

The bird flew into the glass with a startling thump.

The tail of the golden retriever made a happy thump against the sofa.

Contextual Usage: In sports, a 'thump' can describe a heavy hit in rugby or American football, or the sound of a ball hitting a bat or boot.

By varying the adjectives and verbs associated with 'thump,' you can convey everything from the gentle wagging of a dog's tail to the terrifying sound of an intruder in the night. It is a foundational word for building atmosphere through sound.

In the real world, 'thump' is a word that bridges the gap between everyday domesticity and dramatic action. You will hear it most frequently in domestic settings. Parents often use it when monitoring children in another room: 'What was that thump? Is everyone okay?' It is the sound of a toddler jumping off a chair or a toy box being overturned. In the kitchen, a heavy melon might land on the counter with a thump. In the bedroom, you might hear the thump of a partner dropping their shoes at the end of a long day.

Everyday Environments: Homes, gyms (dropping weights), construction sites, and music venues.

Moving into the world of entertainment, 'thump' is a staple of sound design. In horror movies, the 'thump in the night' is a classic trope used to build tension. It suggests something heavy and unseen is moving nearby. In action cinema, the sound of a punch landing is often amplified into a cinematic thump to give the audience a sense of the impact's power. Music producers use the word 'thump' to describe the desired quality of a kick drum—it needs to have enough 'thump' to drive the rhythm and be felt by the audience.

The bass player adjusted his amp to give the low notes more thump.

In sports commentary, you'll hear about the 'thump' of a football being kicked long down the field, or the 'thump' of a tennis ball hitting the sweet spot of a racket. It signifies a clean, powerful connection. In the medical field, though less common in patient-facing talk, doctors might discuss the 'thump' of a heart valve or the use of a 'precordial thump' in cardiac arrest scenarios.

Media & Literature: Mystery novels, comic books (often written as 'THUMP!'), and music reviews.

The comic book hero landed on the roof with a loud thump.

Every thump of the pile driver could be felt in the office building next door.

The newspaper hit the porch with a familiar morning thump.

The trunk of the car closed with a solid, reassuring thump.

Professional Contexts: Carpentry (hammering), logistics (loading boxes), and automotive engineering (door sound quality).

Whether it's the rhythmic beat of a drum, the accidental drop of a book, or the physical manifestation of a heartbeat, 'thump' is a word that resonates across various domains of human experience.

One of the most frequent errors learners make is confusing thump with its close relatives: 'thud,' 'bump,' and 'bang.' While they all describe sounds of impact, the nuances are critical for precise English. A 'thud' is almost identical to a 'thump,' but it often implies a softer, even more deadened sound, like a bag of flour hitting the ground. A 'thump' usually has a bit more force or 'punch' behind it. If you use 'bang' when you mean 'thump,' you are describing a much sharper, louder, and more explosive sound—like a gunshot or a door slamming hard.

Thump vs. Thud: 'Thump' often implies a strike or a beat; 'thud' implies a heavy fall onto a soft surface.

Another mistake is using 'thump' for light sounds. A 'tap' or a 'click' should never be called a 'thump.' If a pen falls on a desk, it's a 'clatter' or a 'click,' not a 'thump.' A 'thump' requires mass. Learners also sometimes struggle with the countability of the noun. You cannot say 'I heard much thump'; you must say 'I heard a lot of thumping' (using the gerund) or 'I heard many thumps.'

Incorrect: The needle hit the floor with a thump. (Too light! Use 'tink' or 'click').

In figurative language, don't confuse a 'thump' of the heart with a 'flutter.' A 'flutter' suggests a fast, light, irregular beat (like a bird's wings), while a 'thump' is a single, heavy, powerful beat often caused by a sudden shock. Using the wrong one can change the emotional tone of your sentence entirely.

Thump vs. Bump: A 'bump' is often a collision where things move; a 'thump' is the sound of that collision.

Incorrect: He gave the door a thump with his key. (Keys are too small; use 'tap').

Correct: He gave the door a thump with his shoulder to open it.

Incorrect: The balloon popped with a thump. (Use 'bang' or 'pop').

Correct: The heavy box landed on the floor with a thump.

Register Errors: Avoid using 'thump' in extremely formal scientific reports unless referring to a specific acoustic measurement; 'impact' or 'low-frequency sound' is preferred.

Finally, be careful with the verb-noun conversion. While 'a thump' is a noun, 'to thump' is the action. In the sentence 'I heard a thump,' it is a noun. In 'I will thump the rug,' it is a verb. Confusing these roles can lead to awkward syntax.

When 'thump' doesn't quite fit the specific sound or action you are describing, English offers a rich palette of alternatives. Each carries a slightly different weight, texture, and intensity.

Thud: The closest synonym. A 'thud' is even more muffled than a 'thump.' Think of a body falling onto grass or a pillow hitting the floor. It lacks any 'sharp' edge.
Bang: Much louder and sharper. A 'bang' usually involves hard surfaces like metal or wood hitting each other with great speed. It is explosive.
Bump: Often refers to the collision itself rather than just the sound. A 'bump' can be light (a 'fender bender') or heavy, but it implies a physical jolt.

If you are looking for something more forceful, consider 'wallop' or 'clout.' These are more informal and usually refer to a heavy blow delivered by a person. 'He gave the ball a real wallop.' For a more mechanical or rhythmic sound, 'pound' or 'beat' might be better. 'The pound of the machinery' suggests a continuous, heavy series of thumps.

Comparison: A thump is a single heavy sound; a clatter is a series of light, sharp sounds.

In the context of music, 'thump' is often replaced by 'kick' or 'punch' to describe the bass. 'The drums have a lot of punch' means they are clear and powerful. In medical or physiological contexts, 'palpitation' is a more formal way to describe a 'thump' or irregular beat of the heart.

Whack: A sharp, forceful hit, often with a stick or flat object. It is higher pitched than a thump.
Clonk: A heavy, somewhat hollow sound, like a wooden shoe on a wooden floor.

The hammer hit the beam with a solid thump.

The bag of sand fell with a heavy thud.

The door closed with a loud bang.

The car hit the pothole with a violent jolt.

Onomatopoeic Relatives: Bam, boom, whump, and thwack all share the phonetic quality of mimicking the sound they name.

By mastering these distinctions, you can move beyond basic descriptions and create a more immersive, sensory experience for your audience.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

The word 'thump' is part of a group of English words ending in '-ump' that describe heavy, rounded, or clumsy things/sounds, like 'lump,' 'bump,' and 'clump.'

発音ガイド

UK /θʌmp/

US /θʌmp/

Single syllable; the stress is on the entire word.

韻が合う語

bump dump hump jump lump pump slump stump clump

よくある間違い

Pronouncing the 'th' as a 't' (tump).
Pronouncing the 'th' as an 'f' (fump).
Making the 'u' sound too long, like 'oo' (thoomp).
Dropping the 'p' at the end (thum).
Using a voiced 'th' like in 'the' instead of the voiceless 'th' in 'thin'.

難易度

読解 2/5

Easy to recognize in context due to its onomatopoeic nature.

ライティング 3/5

Requires knowledge of specific collocations like 'dull' or 'heavy'.

スピーキング 2/5

Simple pronunciation, though the 'th' can be tricky for some.

リスニング 2/5

Distinctive sound, usually easy to catch in speech.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

sound heavy hit fall heart

次に学ぶ

thud bang clatter resonance impact

上級

precordial onomatopoeia transient frequency vibration

知っておくべき文法

Onomatopoeia

Words like 'thump' mimic the sound they describe.

Countable Nouns

You can say 'a thump' or 'three thumps'.

Adjective Placement

Adjectives like 'dull' usually come before 'thump'.

Verb-Noun Conversion

'Thump' can be a noun (the sound) or a verb (to hit).

Prepositional Phrases

Often used with 'with a...' (e.g., 'fell with a thump').

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レベル別の例文

I heard a thump in the kitchen.

J'ai entendu un bruit sourd dans la cuisine.

Noun, singular.

The big ball made a thump.

La grosse balle a fait un bruit sourd.

Subject-verb-object.

Thump, thump, thump went my heart.

Boum, boum, boum faisait mon cœur.

Onomatopoeic use.

He gave the table a thump.

Il a donné un coup sur la table.

Verb 'give' + noun.

The toy fell with a thump.

Le jouet est tombé avec un bruit sourd.

Prepositional phrase 'with a thump'.

I felt a thump on my back.

J'ai senti un coup dans mon dos.

Verb 'felt' + noun.

There was a loud thump.

Il y a eu un grand bruit sourd.

'There was' construction.

The dog's tail made a thump.

La queue du chien a fait un bruit sourd.

Possessive noun.

The suitcase landed on the floor with a heavy thump.

La valise a atterri sur le sol avec un bruit sourd et lourd.

Adjective 'heavy' modifies 'thump'.

Did you hear that thump upstairs?

As-tu entendu ce bruit sourd à l'étage ?

Interrogative sentence.

My heart gave a thump when the teacher called my name.

Mon cœur a sursauté quand le professeur a appelé mon nom.

Metaphorical use for heartbeat.

The cat jumped down with a soft thump.

Le chat a sauté avec un petit bruit sourd.

Adjective 'soft' modifies 'thump'.

He gave the old TV a thump to make it work.

Il a donné un coup sur la vieille télé pour qu'elle marche.

Infinitive of purpose 'to make it work'.

The rhythmic thump of the drum started the parade.

Le battement rythmique du tambour a commencé le défilé.

Adjective 'rhythmic' modifies 'thump'.

I heard a sudden thump against the window.

J'ai entendu un coup soudain contre la fenêtre.

Adjective 'sudden' modifies 'thump'.

The newspaper arrived with a thump on the porch.

Le journal est arrivé avec un bruit sourd sur le porche.

Prepositional phrase.

The dull thump of the falling branch startled the hikers.

Le bruit sourd de la branche qui tombait a fait sursauter les randonneurs.

Noun phrase as subject.

She felt a nervous thump in her chest before the interview.

Elle a ressenti un battement nerveux dans sa poitrine avant l'entretien.

Descriptive adjectives.

The bass speakers produced a powerful thump that shook the floor.

Les haut-parleurs de basse produisaient un battement puissant qui faisait trembler le sol.

Relative clause 'that shook the floor'.

With a final thump, the lid of the heavy chest closed.

Avec un dernier bruit sourd, le couvercle du lourd coffre s'est fermé.

Introductory prepositional phrase.

He delivered a solid thump to the punching bag.

Il a asséné un coup solide au sac de frappe.

Verb 'delivered' + noun.

The sound of the thump echoed through the empty hallway.

Le son du bruit sourd a résonné dans le couloir vide.

Verb 'echoed'.

I recognized the familiar thump of my father's boots.

J'ai reconnu le bruit sourd familier des bottes de mon père.

Possessive construction.

The bird hit the glass with a sickening thump.

L'oiseau a frappé la vitre avec un bruit sourd écoeurant.

Adjective 'sickening' conveys emotion.

The rhythmic thump of the machinery was the heartbeat of the factory.

Le battement rythmique des machines était le cœur de l'usine.

Metaphorical comparison.

A distant thump suggested that the construction crew had started work.

Un bruit sourd lointain suggérait que l'équipe de construction avait commencé le travail.

Noun clause 'that the construction crew...'.

The book hit the pile with a satisfying thump.

Le livre a frappé la pile avec un bruit sourd satisfaisant.

Adjective 'satisfying' describes the quality.

He felt a dull thump in his head after the collision.

Il a ressenti un choc sourd dans sa tête après la collision.

Physical sensation description.

The heavy door shut with a solid thump, locking us inside.

La porte lourde s'est fermée avec un bruit sourd et solide, nous enfermant à l'intérieur.

Participle phrase 'locking us inside'.

There was a faint thump as the letter dropped through the slot.

Il y a eu un léger bruit sourd quand la lettre est tombée dans la fente.

Adjective 'faint' for low volume.

The thump of the helicopter blades grew louder as it approached.

Le battement des pales de l'hélicoptère est devenu plus fort à mesure qu'il approchait.

Subject is 'thump of the helicopter blades'.

She gave the cushion a vigorous thump to restore its shape.

Elle a donné un coup vigoureux au coussin pour lui redonner sa forme.

Adjective 'vigorous'.

The silence was punctuated by the occasional thump of snow falling from the roof.

Le silence était ponctué par le bruit sourd occasionnel de la neige tombant du toit.

Passive voice 'was punctuated'.

The boxer's ribs took a heavy thump, leaving him breathless.

Les côtes du boxeur ont reçu un coup lourd, le laissant essoufflé.

Resultative participle phrase.

The steady thump of the bass drum provided a visceral foundation for the track.

Le battement régulier de la grosse caisse fournissait une base viscérale au morceau.

Sophisticated vocabulary (visceral, foundation).

A single, resonant thump from the gavel brought the courtroom to order.

Un seul coup résonnant du marteau a ramené l'ordre dans la salle d'audience.

Adjective 'resonant' (unusual for thump, implies wood-on-wood).

He could hear the thump of his own pulse in his ears as the adrenaline surged.

Il entendait le battement de son propre pouls dans ses oreilles alors que l'adrénaline montait.

Temporal clause 'as the adrenaline surged'.

The crate hit the deck with a thump that resonated through the entire ship.

La caisse a frappé le pont avec un bruit sourd qui a résonné dans tout le navire.

Relative clause modifying 'thump'.

The narrative hit its climax with the physical thump of the protagonist's fall.

Le récit a atteint son apogée avec le choc physique de la chute du protagoniste.

Metaphorical literary analysis.

The tires made a rhythmic thump-thump as they rolled over the expansion joints.

Les pneus faisaient un tac-tac rythmique en roulant sur les joints de dilatation.

Compound onomatopoeia.

The existential thump of the news reverberated through his carefully constructed life.

Le choc existentiel de la nouvelle a résonné à travers sa vie soigneusement construite.

Highly abstract metaphorical use.

In the acoustic design of the hall, even the slightest thump of a footfall was minimized.

Dans la conception acoustique de la salle, même le plus petit bruit sourd d'un pas était minimisé.

Technical architectural context.

The precordial thump, though controversial, remains a last-ditch effort in certain cardiac arrests.

Le coup précordial, bien que controversé, reste un effort de la dernière chance dans certains arrêts cardiaques.

Specialized medical terminology.

The poet uses the word 'thump' to ground the ethereal imagery in a brutal, physical reality.

Le poète utilise le mot 'thump' pour ancrer l'imagerie éthérée dans une réalité physique brutale.

Literary criticism register.

The heavy, deadened thump of the safe closing signified the end of their financial freedom.

Le bruit sourd et étouffé de la fermeture du coffre-fort signifiait la fin de leur liberté financière.

Complex modifiers and symbolic meaning.

The sound was less a bang and more a hollow thump, suggesting the container was empty.

Le son était moins un bang et plus un bruit sourd et creux, suggérant que le conteneur était vide.

Comparative structure for acoustic precision.

Every thump of the pile driver into the silt felt like a personal assault on the quiet of the bay.

Chaque coup du mouton dans le limon ressemblait à une agression personnelle contre le calme de la baie.

Simile for emotional effect.

The sheer physical thump of the air displacement from the explosion knocked him sideways.

Le simple choc physique du déplacement d'air de l'explosion l'a projeté sur le côté.

Scientific/descriptive precision.

よく使う組み合わせ

dull thump

heavy thump

heart thump

rhythmic thump

sickening thump

distant thump

sudden thump

hollow thump

solid thump

final thump

よく使うフレーズ

a thump in the night

— A mysterious or frightening sound heard while one is in bed.

Every little thump in the night makes the children jump.

give something a thump

— To hit something heavily, often to fix it or get attention.

Give the starter motor a thump if it won't turn over.

land with a thump

— To fall and hit the ground making a heavy sound.

The heavy box landed with a thump on the porch.

thump of the bass

— The heavy, low-frequency beat in music.

You can feel the thump of the bass in your chest.

heart gave a thump

— A sudden feeling of excitement, fear, or surprise.

My heart gave a thump when I saw the surprise party.

a dull thump

— A muffled, non-resonant sound of impact.

The bird hit the window with a dull thump.

heard a thump

— To perceive a heavy sound of something falling.

We heard a thump and ran to see what happened.

rhythmic thump

— A repeating heavy sound.

The rhythmic thump of the washing machine was annoying.

feel the thump

— To sense the vibration of a heavy impact.

I could feel the thump of the explosions from miles away.

a solid thump

— A sound that indicates a firm and secure impact.

The door closed with a solid thump.

よく混同される語

thump vs thud

A thud is usually softer and more muffled than a thump.

thump vs bang

A bang is much louder, sharper, and more explosive.

thump vs bump

A bump refers to the collision itself, while thump is the sound.

慣用句と表現

"thump one's chest"

— To show off or act in a boastful, macho way.

He's just thumping his chest to impress the new recruits.

informal

"a thump on the back"

— A physical gesture of congratulations or encouragement.

He gave me a friendly thump on the back after the game.

neutral

"things that go thump in the night"

— Supernatural beings or mysterious, scary occurrences.

She doesn't believe in ghosts or things that go thump in the night.

literary/humorous

"thump the tub"

— To support or promote something loudly and enthusiastically.

The politician was thumping the tub for tax reform.

idiomatic/informal

"get a thumping"

— To be soundly defeated or physically beaten.

The team got a thumping in the finals.

informal (UK)

"thump someone's ear"

— To talk to someone at great length, often annoyingly.

He spent the whole evening thumping my ear about his new car.

slang/rare

"a thumping majority"

— A very large and impressive majority in an election.

The party won with a thumping majority of sixty percent.

journalistic (UK)

"thump the table"

— To make a strong, forceful point during a discussion.

She thumped the table and demanded an answer.

neutral

"with a thump"

— Suddenly and with great impact (often metaphorical).

Reality hit him with a thump the next morning.

neutral

"thump-thump"

— A representation of a heartbeat or a rhythmic mechanical sound.

The thump-thump of the engine was reassuring.

onomatopoeic

間違えやすい

thump vs thud

Both are dull impact sounds.

A thump often implies a strike or a more forceful impact; a thud is more passive and deadened.

The hammer hit with a thump; the pillow fell with a thud.

thump vs bang

Both are sounds of something hitting something else.

Bang is high-pitched and sharp; thump is low-pitched and dull.

The gun went bang; the box went thump.

thump vs clatter

Both are sounds made by falling objects.

Clatter is a series of sharp, light sounds; thump is a single, heavy sound.

The silverware clattered; the table thumped.

thump vs tap

Both are sounds of contact.

Tap is very light; thump is very heavy.

A tap on the shoulder; a thump on the back.

thump vs pop

Both can be sudden sounds.

Pop is a sharp, small explosion of air; thump is a heavy impact of solids.

The bubble popped; the melon thumped.

文型パターン

I heard a [adjective] thump.

I heard a big thump.

The [noun] fell with a thump.

The book fell with a thump.

My heart gave a [adjective] thump.

My heart gave a nervous thump.

There was a [adjective] thump against the [noun].

There was a sudden thump against the window.

The [noun] was punctuated by a [adjective] thump.

The silence was punctuated by a distant thump.

The [abstract noun] hit him with a physical thump.

The reality hit him with a physical thump.

He gave the [noun] a [adjective] thump.

He gave the door a solid thump.

The rhythmic thump of [noun] filled the [noun].

The rhythmic thump of drums filled the hall.

語族

名詞

thump

thumper

thumping

動詞

thump

形容詞

thumping

使い方

frequency

Common in both spoken and written English.

よくある間違い

The needle fell with a thump. → The needle fell with a click.
A needle is too light to make a thump. Thumps require heavy objects.
I heard a thump of a bell. → I heard the ring of a bell.
Bells are resonant and metallic; they don't make dull thumps.
My heart gave a thump-thump-thump. → My heart was thumping.
A 'thump' is usually a single event. For a continuous sound, use the verb 'thumping'.
The balloon went thump! → The balloon went pop!
Balloons make a sharp, airy sound, not a heavy, dull one.
He gave the paper a thump. → He gave the paper a flick.
Paper is too thin and light to produce a thump when hit.

ヒント

Use for Weight

Use 'thump' when you want to tell the reader that the object falling is heavy. It adds immediate weight to the scene.

Dull vs. Sharp

Remember that a thump is never sharp. If the sound has a 'ring' to it, use 'clang' or 'clink' instead.

Heartbeat Imagery

Use 'thump' to show sudden emotion. 'A single thump of her heart' is more powerful than 'She was surprised.'

Countable Noun

Always treat 'thump' as a countable noun. 'There were several thumps,' not 'There was several thump.'

Avoid Overuse

While 'thump' is great, don't use it for every sound. Mix it up with 'thud,' 'clonk,' or 'crash' to keep your writing interesting.

The Short U

The 'u' in thump is the same as in 'up.' Don't make it sound like 'oo' in 'boot.'

Identify the Source

When you hear a 'thump' in English media, look for the heavy object. It helps you associate the sound with the word.

Sensory Detail

Combine 'thump' with a feeling. 'I felt the thump in my bones' is very descriptive.

Tub-thumping

If someone is 'tub-thumping,' they are promoting an idea very loudly. It's a great idiom for politics.

Cultural Nuance

In the UK, 'a thump' can be a punch. Be aware of this if you are reading British literature.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of a 'THick lUMP' hitting the floor. TH- + -UMP = THUMP.

視覚的連想

Imagine a heavy, old book falling onto a thick rug. See the dust rise and hear the low 'thump.'

Word Web

sound heavy impact heart drum fall hit dull

チャレンジ

Try to find three things in your house that make a 'thump' when you tap them with your fist. Write a sentence for each.

語源

Mid-16th century, likely of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin.

元の意味： To strike with something thick or heavy; the sound of such a blow.

Germanic/English (imitative).

文化的な背景

Generally neutral, but 'thumping' someone can imply physical violence.

Commonly used in storytelling to create suspense or describe physical comedy.

Thumper (the rabbit from Bambi) The 'Precordial Thump' in medical dramas like ER The song 'Tubthumping' by Chumbawamba

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

At home

heard a thump upstairs
dropped it with a thump
thump on the door
cat landed with a thump

In music

thump of the bass
kick drum thump
feel the thump
rhythmic thump

Physical health

heart gave a thump
felt a thump in my chest
pulse thump
precordial thump

Accidents

sickening thump
thump of the collision
hit the ground with a thump
loud thump

Sports

thump of the ball
gave it a thump
heavy thump of a tackle
solid thump

会話のきっかけ

"Did you hear that loud thump coming from the neighbor's apartment last night?"

"I love music where you can really feel the thump of the bass in your chest, don't you?"

"Has your heart ever given a sudden thump when you were surprised by someone?"

"What's the loudest thump you've ever heard in your house during a storm?"

"Do you think a 'thump' or a 'bang' is a scarier sound to hear in the dark?"

日記のテーマ

Describe a time you heard a mysterious thump in the middle of the night. What did you think it was?

Write about a moment when your heart gave a nervous thump. What was happening in that moment?

Imagine you are a giant walking through a city. Describe the thumps your feet make as you move.

Think about your favorite song. How would you describe the 'thump' of the rhythm to someone else?

Write a short story that begins with the sentence: 'The silence was broken by a heavy thump in the attic.'

よくある質問

10 問

It is both! As a noun, it is the sound (I heard a thump). As a verb, it is the action (He thumped the table). This entry focuses on the noun.

They are very similar, but a 'thump' usually sounds a bit more solid or forceful, while a 'thud' sounds softer and more muffled, like something hitting sand or a carpet.

Yes, it is very common to say your heart 'gave a thump' when you are startled or excited. It describes a single, strong beat.

It is a neutral word. It is fine to use in most writing, but in a very formal scientific paper, you might use 'impact' or 'acoustic pulse' instead.

It's a common phrase referring to ghosts, monsters, or any scary, unexplained noises you hear when it's dark.

The plural is 'thumps.' Just add an 's' at the end.

Yes, the word 'thump' is intended to sound like the actual noise of a heavy impact.

The most common ones are 'dull,' 'heavy,' 'loud,' 'soft,' 'rhythmic,' and 'distant.'

Yes, it often describes the heavy, low beat of a bass guitar or a kick drum.

It is a medical term for a sharp blow to the center of the chest used to try and restart a heart in certain emergencies.

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