Entry
ちち
chichi
A high-pitched, delicate chirping or cheeping sound made by small birds or insects.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
ちち (chichi) is a Japanese onomatopoeia used to represent the faint, short, and high-pitched tweeting or chirping sounds produced by small birds, newly hatched chicks, or certain insects.
- The soft chirping of a small bird, chick, or insect.
Sense Map
Bird Chirping
The delicate cheeping of small birds or chicks.
ちちと鳴く
Insect Sounds
The faint chirping of insects.
虫がちちと鳴く
Usage Note
How to Use
ちちと鳴く
Used with the quotation particle と (to) and the verb 鳴く (naku - to sound/cry) to describe the source of the sound.
ちち、ちち
Repeated to show that the chirping is continuous or successive.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ちちと鳴く
to chirp delicately
ちちとさえずる
to tweet faintly
ちち、ちち
chirp chirp
小鳥がちちと鳴く
a small bird chirps
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chicks or small birds | positive | Conveys an impression of something small, fragile, and cute. |
| Insects at night | neutral | Indicates a faint sound of nature in the background. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ちゅんちゅん ちゅんちゅん / similar | For the chirping of sparrows or small birds in a more cheerful and resonant manner. | ちち is much softer, weaker, or quieter compared to チュンチュン. | スズメがチュンチュン鳴く |
ぴよぴよ ぴよぴよ / similar | Specifically for the sound of newly hatched chicks or baby birds. | ちち is not limited to chicks and has a shorter, more abrupt tone. | ヒヨコがぴよぴよ鳴く |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Confusing this word with the noun "father" (父, chichi) or "milk" (乳, chichi).
In the context of sound (usually followed by と鳴く), it is an onomatopoeia, not a noun.
Using it for large birds like crows or hawks.
This word is strictly for very small, high-pitched sounds. Use カーカー (kaakaa) for crows.
Examples
Examples
「ちち、ちち」と小鳥が鳴いている。
「ちち、ちち」とことりがないている。
A small bird is chirping "tweet, tweet".
LiteralDescribes the continuous delicate chirping sound.
卵からかえったばかりのヒナが、ちちと鳴いた。
たまごからかえったばかりのヒナが、ちちとないた。
The newly hatched chick cheeped.
LiteralUsed for the faint sound of a very young chick.
木の枝から、ちちというかわいらしい声が聞こえる。
きのえだから、ちちというかわいらしいこえがきこえる。
A cute chirping sound can be heard from the tree branch.
LiteralHighlights the cute and gentle nature of the sound.
秋の夜長に、虫がちちと鳴いている。
あきのよながに、むしがちちとないている。
In the long autumn night, insects are faintly chirping.
LiteralApplied to the faint, delicate sound of insect calls at night.
スズメがちち、ちちとさえずるのを聞いて目が覚めた。
スズメがちち、ちちとさえずるのをきいてめがさめた。
I woke up hearing the sparrows tweeting "chirp, chirp".
LiteralShows the use with the verb saezuru, which means to sing or chirp.
Similar Words
チュンチュン
chunchun
The chirping or cheeping sound of small birds, especially sparrows. Louder and more energetic chirping of sparrows.
ぴよぴよ
piyopiyo
Represents the high-pitched peeping or chirping of chicks, as well as frail, gentle movements. Specifically for the peeping of newly hatched chicks.
ピーピー
piipii
A word representing high-pitched repeated sounds like beeps or chirps, as well as figurative states like having diarrhea, being broke, or being a novice.
Questions
Is ちち the same as the word for father (父)?
They are pronounced the same, but the ちち explained here is an onomatopoeia for a sound. It is usually written in kana and paired with verbs like 鳴く (naku).
What kind of birds make a ちち sound?
Very small birds or newly hatched chicks that have weak, delicate voices.
Can I use ちち for the sound of a mouse?
It is not common. The sound of a mouse is usually represented by チューチュー (chuuchuu).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2861261
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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