Entry
どやどや
doyadoya
A mimetic word for the noisy sound of a large group of people moving or walking together.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Represents the bustling, disorganized sound of many footsteps, typically when a crowd is entering, leaving, or gathering in a space.
- A crowd entering/leaving noisily
- Many people flocking or surging forward
Sense Map
Entering or leaving (Crowd)
Describes a large group of people entering or leaving a place at the same time, producing disorganized and noisy footsteps.
観客がどやどやと入ってきた。
Gathering or surging
A group of people moving forward together, creating a noisy commotion with their physical movement.
人がどやどやと押し寄せた。
Usage Note
How to Use
どやどやと + verb
The most common form, acting as an adverb to describe how a group is moving (e.g., entering, leaving, or walking).
どやどや + verb
The same as above, but with the particle 'to' omitted for slightly more casual speech.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どやどやと入ってくる
to enter noisily in a crowd
どやどやと出ていく
to leave noisily in a crowd
どやどや押し寄せる
to surge forward noisily
どやどや歩く
to walk noisily in a group
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| A group entering a room. | Neutral to negative | Often implies a disruption, a sudden arrival, or a lack of order (like police rushing a room). |
| Moving in a large mass. | Neutral | Focuses on the sheer physical weight and noise of many people moving at once. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どかどか どかどか / similar | Used to emphasize heavy, loud footsteps, and can be used for a single person. | どやどや always implies a group of people, whereas どかどか focuses on the heaviness or roughness of the steps. | 男がどかどかと入ってきた。 |
ざわざわ ざわざわ / contrast | Used for the murmuring or rustling sound of many people talking. | どやどや focuses on physical movement and footsteps, not the sound of voices or conversations. | 教室がざわざわしている。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a single person walking loudly.
どやどや requires a large group or crowd of people.
Using it to describe a noisy cafe full of talking people.
That would be ざわざわ (zawazawa). どやどや refers strictly to physical movement and footsteps.
Examples
Examples
観客がどやどやと会場に入ってきた。
かんきゃくがどやどやとかいじょうにはいってきた。
The audience entered the venue noisily in a crowd.
LiteralUsed for a large group of people moving together and making noise with their footsteps.
授業が終わると、生徒たちはどやどやと教室から出ていった。
じゅぎょうがおわると、せいとたちはどやどやときょうしつからでていった。
When class ended, the students left the classroom noisily in a group.
LiteralDescribes the disorganized and noisy sound of many people leaving.
セール会場に人がどやどやと押し寄せた。
セールかいじょうにひとがどやどやとおしよせた。
People surged into the sale venue noisily.
VisualFocuses on the visual and auditory impact of a crowd surging forward.
警官たちが部屋にどやどやと踏み込んだ。
けいかんたちがへやにどやどやとふみこんだ。
The police officers rushed into the room noisily.
LiteralConveys a sense of urgency and disorganized noise during an abrupt entry.
その店に若者のグループがどやどや入ってきた。
そのみせにわかもののグループがどやどやはいってきた。
A group of young people entered the store noisily.
LiteralShows the word used without the particle 'to' (と), which is also common.
Similar Words
どかどか
dokadoka
A mimetic word for the loud, heavy sound of footsteps or a crowd of people barging in noisily. Also for noisy footsteps, but 'dokadoka' can be used for a single person with heavy steps.
ざわざわ
zawazawa
Zawazawa describes the murmuring sound of a crowd, rustling leaves, or a feeling of unease and chills. Used for the sound of many people talking, rather than the physical sound of movement.
Questions
Can I use 'doyadoya' for one person?
No. It specifically represents the sound of a group of people. For one person with noisy steps, use 'dokadoka'.
Does it represent the sound of people talking?
No, it represents the physical sound of movement (mainly footsteps). For people talking, use 'zawazawa'.
Is this word positive or negative?
It is usually neutral, but it can lean negative because it implies a lack of order and sudden noisiness.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1009270
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- どっと (dotto)
- Next entry
- どろどろ (dorodoro)