Entry
ブッブー
bubbuu
The buzzing sound of a wrong answer buzzer or a short, loud car horn.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Represents a loud electronic buzzer or a car's horn. In Japan, it is most famously known as the standard sound effect indicating an incorrect answer in a quiz or game.
- 1. Wrong answer buzzer
- 2. Car horn
Sense Map
Wrong Answer
Represents the harsh buzzing sound indicating an incorrect answer in a game or quiz.
ブッブー、不正解です。
Car Horn
The short, loud honking sound of a car horn.
車がブッブーと鳴る。
Usage Note
How to Use
ブッブーと
Used with verbs like 鳴る (to sound/ring) or 音がする (to make a sound) to describe how a machine or horn sounds.
ブッブー
Often used as a standalone interjection to declare that an answer is incorrect.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ブッブーと鳴る
to buzz / to honk
ブッブー、不正解
bzzz, incorrect
ブッブーとクラクションを鳴らす
to honk the car horn
ブッブーと音がする
to make a buzzing / honking sound
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz Shows / Games | neutral | Standard sound effect universally understood in Japan for getting an answer wrong (opposite of pinpon). |
| Traffic / Vehicles | neutral | Represents a short, loud car honk used to alert others. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぶー ぶー / similar | Used for a continuous buzzing sound or a sound of booing/disapproval from an audience. | ブー implies a longer sound or booing, whereas ブッブー is specifically the abrupt buzzer sound for a wrong answer. | ブーとブザーが鳴る。 |
ぶーぶー ぶーぶー / similar | Used for repeated honking, a pig's oink, or people grumbling and complaining. | ブーブー is often used for complaining or repeated sounds, unlike the single sharp buzzer sound of ブッブー. | ブーブー文句を言う。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Thinking it only means a car horn.
It is very famously used as the wrong answer buzzer sound in Japanese TV shows and quizzes.
Using it to express personal disapproval or booing at someone.
Use ブー (buu) or ブーブー (buubuu) for booing or complaining; ブッブー is typically an electronic or mechanical sound.
Examples
Examples
ブッブー、残念ながら不正解です。
ブッブー、ざんねんながらふせいかいです。
Bzzz, unfortunately that is incorrect.
LiteralMimics the electronic buzzer sound on TV game shows.
クイズ番組でブッブーとブザーが鳴った。
クイズばんぐみでブッブーとブザーがなった。
The buzzer went bzzz on the quiz show.
LiteralDescribes the quiz buzzer.
危ないから車がブッブーとクラクションを鳴らした。
あぶないからくるまがブッブーとクラクションをならした。
The car honked its horn because it was dangerous.
LiteralUsed for sounding a car horn.
パスワードを間違えて、機械がブッブーと音を出した。
パスワードをまちがえて、きかいがブッブーとおとをだした。
The machine made a buzzing sound because I entered the wrong password.
LiteralAn error buzzer from a machine.
ブッブー！その答えは違います。
ブッブー！そのこたえはちがいます。
Bzzz! That answer is wrong.
LiteralCan be spoken directly to tell someone they are wrong.
Similar Words
ブー
buu
A long buzzer sound or audience booing.
Questions
Can ブッブー be used when giving the correct answer?
No, for a correct answer, the standard sound used in Japan is ピンポン (pinpon).
Can I use this to describe an animal's sound?
Usually no. It is strictly used for mechanical sounds like buzzers or horns. For a pig's oink, use ブーブー (buubuu).
How is it different from ブーブー?
ブーブー is for complaining or repeated sounds, while ブッブー is typically a single, sharp buzzer or horn sound.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2203370
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- ピカッと (pikatto)
- Next entry
- ぼんぼん (bonbon)