Entry
ガシャッ
gasha
The loud sound of hard objects crashing, breaking, or clanking.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
An onomatopoeia representing the loud, sharp sound made when hard objects like glass, metal, or machinery forcefully collide, break, or operate.
- sound of glass or metal shattering
- heavy crashing sound
- mechanical clanking
Sense Map
Shattering / Crashing
The harsh sound of hard objects like glass or metal breaking or colliding forcefully.
窓ガラスがガシャッと割れた。
Mechanical Clanking
The heavy, metallic sound of machinery, locks, or gears moving and locking with force.
ドアの鍵がガシャッと閉まる音。
Usage Note
How to Use
ガシャッと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action (like breaking or closing) happens with a loud crashing or clanking sound.
ガシャッと鳴る
Describes something making a loud crashing or clanking noise.
ガシャッとする
Used to express that something produces a harsh crashing or clanking sound.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ガシャッと割れる
to break with a crash
ガシャッと閉まる
to close with a clank
ガシャッと鳴る
to make a crashing or clanking sound
ガシャッと音を立てる
to produce a loud crash
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Glass or ceramics breaking | negative | Often implies an accident and a messy break. |
| Machinery or locks | neutral | Implies the mechanism is engaging firmly and loudly. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぱきっ ぱきっ / contrast | Used for the snapping sound of thin, hard objects like thin plastic or small twigs. | Does not carry the heavy, scattered, or harsh implication of a large crash. | プラスチックがパキッと折れた。 |
ばきばき ばきばき / contrast | Used for continuous, heavy cracking or snapping sounds, like breaking thick branches. | Not used for the metallic or glassy shattering sounds of ガシャッ. | 枝をバキバキと折る。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using this word when dropping a soft item like a book or a pillow.
ガシャッ is strictly for very hard materials like glass, ceramic, or metal.
Using it for a simple knock on a door.
A door knock is コンコン, whereas ガシャッ implies destruction or heavy metal clashing.
Examples
Examples
ボールが当たって、窓ガラスがガシャッと割れた。
ボールが 当たって、 窓ガラスが ガシャッと 割れた。
Hit by the ball, the window glass shattered with a crash.
VisualIndicates glass breaking violently into pieces.
ドアの鍵がガシャッと閉まった。
ドアの 鍵が ガシャッと 閉まった。
The door locked with a loud clank.
LiteralThe sound of heavy metal mechanisms locking into place.
自転車が壁にぶつかって、ガシャッと倒れた。
自転車が 壁に ぶつかって、 ガシャッと 倒れた。
The bicycle hit the wall and fell over with a crash.
VisualDescribes the impact of the bicycle's metal parts hitting a hard surface.
機械のレバーをガシャッと引く。
機械の レバーを ガシャッと 引く。
Pull the machine's lever with a loud clank.
LiteralThe sound of heavy machinery components being operated.
床に落としたグラスがガシャッと音を立てた。
床に 落とした グラスが ガシャッと 音を 立てた。
The glass dropped on the floor made a crashing sound.
VisualA glass shattering into pieces on a hard floor.
Similar Words
パキッ
paki
The snap of a thin, hard object, not a large crash.
バキバキ
bakibaki
The sound of something breaking continuously like a thick wooden branch.
Questions
Can I use ガシャッ for a plate falling to the floor?
Yes, it is very suitable if the plate breaks with a loud, harsh crash.
What is the difference between ガシャッ and ガチャン?
Both are very similar, but ガシャッ often sounds a bit harsher, sharper, or messier than ガチャン.
Is ガシャッ used in positive contexts?
It can be neutral when referring to a door locking securely or a machine working, but it is typically negative when it refers to something breaking.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2101840
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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