Entry
ブー
buu
A loud, flat noise such as an electronic buzzer, a car honk, or the sound for an incorrect answer.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
ブー (bu) represents a loud, continuous, and often jarring sound. It is most commonly used for electronic buzzers, car horns in traffic, or the familiar 'wrong answer' buzzer sound on quiz shows, often carrying a negative or warning nuance.
- buzzer
- wrong answer
- car horn
Sense Map
Wrong Answer & Buzzer
The jarring sound of a buzzer, especially indicating an incorrect answer or a failure.
クイズでブーと鳴る。
Car Horn
The honking sound of a car horn in traffic.
車がブーッと鳴らす。
Electronic Warning
A loud beep or flat electronic noise serving as an alarm or warning.
警告音がブーと鳴る。
Usage Note
How to Use
ブーと鳴る
Describes something automatically making a buzzing or honking sound.
ブーと鳴らす
ブー！
Used alone as an exclamation to mimic a wrong answer buzzer.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ブーと鳴る
to buzz or honk
ブーッと鳴らす
to honk (a horn) loudly
クイズでブー
buzzer in a quiz
ブーと音がする
to make a buzzing/honking sound
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz Shows | negative | Universally understood as the sound of failing or guessing incorrectly. |
| Traffic | negative | Represents the loud and often impatient honking of a car horn. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぶっぶー ぶっぶー / similar | Used very specifically for the 'wrong answer' sound, often spoken by a person. | ブー is more general and can also refer to car horns or mechanical buzzers. | ブッブー、不正解です。 |
ちん ちん / contrast | Used for a clear, high-pitched bell sound, like a microwave finishing or a correct answer chime. | Contrasts with the harsh, low, or negative sound of ブー. | レンジがチンと鳴る。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a phone vibrating.
Phones vibrating usually use ブーブー instead of a single ブー.
Using it for a correct answer.
ブー specifically implies a wrong answer; a correct answer is usually ピンポン.
Examples
Examples
クイズ番組で間違えると、大きな音でブーと鳴った。
クイズばんぐみでまちがえると、おおきなおとでブーとなった。
When I answered incorrectly on the quiz show, the buzzer sounded loudly.
LiteralA typical buzzer sound indicating a wrong answer in a quiz.
後ろの車が、イライラした様子でブーッとクラクションを鳴らした。
うしろのくるまが、イライラしたようすでブーッとクラクションをならした。
The car behind honked its horn loudly in frustration.
LiteralRepresents the sound of a car horn.
玄関のブザーがブーと鳴り、荷物が届いたことを知らせた。
げんかんのブザーがブーとなり、にもつがとどいたことをしらせた。
The doorbell buzzed, signaling that a package had arrived.
LiteralA mechanical calling sound such as an intercom.
「私の年齢は二十歳でしょう？」「ブー！残念でした。」
「わたしのねんれいははたちでしょう？」「ブー！ざんねんでした。」
"I'm twenty years old, right?" "Wrong! Too bad."
FigurativeUsed playfully to tell someone their guess or answer is wrong.
洗濯機のエラーを知らせる警告音が、低くブーと鳴っている。
せんたくきのエラーをしらせるけいこくおんが、ひくくブーとなっている。
The warning sound indicating a washing machine error is buzzing low.
LiteralA low, flat sound indicating a machine error.
Similar Words
ブッブー
bubbuu
The buzzing sound of a wrong answer buzzer or a short, loud car horn. A variant often spoken aloud to indicate a wrong answer.
ブーブー
buubuu
Represents the sound of honking, vibrating, a pig oinking, or persistent complaining.
チン
chin
A short "ding" sound of a small bell or timer, most commonly used as a casual verb meaning to heat food in a microwave. An opposite of ブー, used for the clear chime of a correct answer or a microwave.
Questions
Can I use ブー when someone says something wrong in conversation?
Yes, mimicking the quiz show buzzer is a playful way to tell someone they are incorrect.
Does ブー mean 'boo' like scaring someone?
No, it does not mean scaring someone. While it can sound like 'boo' (disapproval) in English, it primarily refers to mechanical buzzers or horns.
What is the difference between ブー and ブーブー?
ブーブー involves a repeated sound and is often used for a vibrating phone, a pig's oink, or people grumbling. ブー is typically a single sustained blast.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2727750
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
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- Active language
- English
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