大きい声
ookii koe
Loud voice
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}' to describe a loud or high-volume voice in any social setting.
- Means: A voice that is high in volume or loud.
- Used in: Classrooms, noisy streets, or when asking someone to repeat themselves.
- Don't confuse: Never use '{高|たか}い{声|こえ}' (high-pitched) when you mean loud volume.
Explanation at your level:
意思
A voice that is high in volume.
文化背景
The concept of 'Kiai' in martial arts involves a '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}' to focus energy. It's not just noise; it's spirit. New employees are often expected to use a '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}' for greetings to show enthusiasm and reliability. Speaking in a '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}' on trains is considered very rude and 'meiwaku' (nuisance). Loud shouting is an integral part of festivals, used to cheer on those carrying the 'mikoshi' (portable shrine).
The 'De' Rule
Always remember '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}で' (with/in a loud voice). It's the most common way you'll actually use it in a sentence.
Avoid 'Takai'
Never use 'takai' for volume. It's the #1 mistake for English speakers.
意思
A voice that is high in volume.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}で' (with/in a loud voice). It's the most common way you'll actually use it in a sentence.
Avoid 'Takai'
Never use 'takai' for volume. It's the #1 mistake for English speakers.
Genki Greetings
If you want to impress Japanese people, use a '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}' for 'Ohayou gozaimasu!'
Koe vs Oto
If it has lungs, use 'Koe'. If it has a plug or a motor, use 'Oto'.
自我测试
Fill in the blank with the correct adjective for 'loud'.
{図書館|としょかん}で{＿＿＿|おおきい}{声|こえ}を{出|だ}さないでください。
In Japanese, 'big' (ookii) is used for volume.
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask someone to speak louder?
Choose one:
The particle 'de' is used for manner, and 'koe' is for human voices.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are at a rock concert and want to tell your friend to shout.
You want them to use a 'big voice' to be heard over the music.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {田中|たなか}さんの{声|こえ}、どうですか？ B: {田中|たなか}さんは＿＿＿＿＿＿。
This is the standard 'Subject + ga + Adjective' pattern to describe a trait.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Voice vs. Sound
When to use a Big Voice
Good
- • Festivals
- • Greetings
- • Sports
Bad
- • Trains
- • Libraries
- • Hospitals
常见问题
10 个问题No, use 'ookii oto' for a TV. 'Koe' is only for living things.
Yes, but 'oogoe' is a noun. You usually say 'oogoe wo dasu' (to shout).
It can be. It's better to say 'koe ga tooru' (your voice carries well) if you want to be positive.
Say 'Mou sukoshi ookii koe de hanashite kudasai'.
The opposite is 'chiisai koe' (small voice).
Yes, saying you will use a 'big voice' shows you are energetic and ready to work.
Not necessarily. It just means high volume. Shouting is 'sakebu'.
Japanese conceptualizes sound as something that occupies physical space.
Only with very close friends. It's quite rough/masculine.
Yes, 'inu no koe ga ookii' is perfectly natural.
相关表达
{大声|おおごえ}
synonymLoud voice (noun)
{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}
contrastQuiet voice / whisper
{叫|さけ}ぶ
builds onTo shout / scream
{怒鳴|どな}る
specialized formTo yell in anger
{地声|じごえ}
similarOne's natural voice
{張|は}り{上|あ}げる
builds onTo raise (one's voice)
在哪里用
In a noisy restaurant
Friend A: すみません、よく{聞|き}こえません。
Friend B: ごめん！{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}すね。
Teacher to students
Teacher: {皆|みな}さん、{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}で{挨拶|あいさつ}しましょう！
Students: おはようございます！
On a train (complaint)
Passenger A: あの{人|ひと}、{声|こえ}が{大|おお}きいね。
Passenger B: そうだね、ちょっと{静|しず}かにしてほしいね。
Job Interview
Interviewer: {緊張|きんちょう}していますか？
Candidate: はい、でも{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}で{頑張|がんば}ります！
At a concert
Fan A: {大|おお}きい{声|こえ}で{歌|うた}おう！
Fan B: おー！
Asking for a repeat
Customer: もう{一度|いちど}、{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}で{言|い}ってもらえますか？
Clerk: はい、かしこまりました。
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Big' (Ookii) speaker box coming out of someone's 'Voice' (Koe) box.
Visual Association
Imagine a tiny person standing in front of a giant, 'big' megaphone. The sound waves are so big they take up the whole picture.
Rhyme
Ookii Koe, don't say 'No' way!
Story
Once there was a giant named Ookii who had a very big voice. Every time he said 'Koe!', the mountains shook. Now, whenever you hear someone loud, remember the giant Ookii and his Koe.
Word Web
挑战
Go through your day and identify three times you hear a '{大|おお}きい{声|こえ}'. Say the phrase in your head each time.
In Other Languages
Loud voice
Conceptualizing volume as size vs. intensity.
Voz alta
Spanish uses height; Japanese uses size.
Voix forte
French focuses on strength; Japanese on spatial volume.
Laute Stimme
German uses a specific auditory adjective.
صوت عالٍ (Sawt 'alin)
Arabic maps volume to verticality.
大声 (Dàshēng)
Almost identical usage.
큰 목소리 (Keun moksori)
Grammar differs, but the metaphor is the same.
Voz alta
Vertical metaphor vs. spatial metaphor.
Easily Confused
Learners think 'high' means 'high volume'.
Remember: Takai = Pitch (Soprano), Ookii = Volume (Megaphone).
Mixing up 'voice' and 'sound'.
Use 'Koe' for people/animals, 'Oto' for everything else.
常见问题 (10)
No, use 'ookii oto' for a TV. 'Koe' is only for living things.
Yes, but 'oogoe' is a noun. You usually say 'oogoe wo dasu' (to shout).
It can be. It's better to say 'koe ga tooru' (your voice carries well) if you want to be positive.
Say 'Mou sukoshi ookii koe de hanashite kudasai'.
The opposite is 'chiisai koe' (small voice).
Yes, saying you will use a 'big voice' shows you are energetic and ready to work.
Not necessarily. It just means high volume. Shouting is 'sakebu'.
Japanese conceptualizes sound as something that occupies physical space.
Only with very close friends. It's quite rough/masculine.
Yes, 'inu no koe ga ookii' is perfectly natural.
