Entry
ギンッ
gin
ギンッ (ginn) describes a sharp and intense glare, a sudden stinging pain, or the sharp metallic clash of objects like swords.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
In Japanese, ギンッ is an onomatopoeia used to convey a sudden, forceful intensity. It is most commonly used to describe someone glaring or staring piercingly at another person, often with hostility. It can also describe a sudden, sharp physical sensation like a stinging pain in a tooth, or the sharp, metallic clanging sound when swords strike each other.
- Piercing stare
- Sharp pain
- Metallic clash
Sense Map
Piercing Stare
Glaring sharply and intently, often with anger or strong emotion.
相手の顔をギンッと睨んだ。
Sharp Pain
A sudden, stinging pain, like a sensitive tooth reacting to cold.
冷たい水が歯にギンッと染みた。
Metallic Clash
A sharp, ringing sound made when hard metals strike each other.
刀がギンッと音を立ててぶつかった。
Usage Note
How to Use
ギンッと + verb
Used as an adverb to indicate that an action (like glaring or clashing) happens sharply and suddenly.
ギンッとする
Used to describe the state of feeling a sudden, sharp sensation, such as a physical or emotional sting.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ギンッと睨む
to glare sharply
ギンッと痛む
to ache sharply
ギンッと音がする
to make a sharp metallic sound
目をギンッとさせる
to make one's eyes wide and glaring
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Glaring at someone | negative | Often conveys anger, hostility, or severe strictness. It's a quick, intimidating look. |
| Describing pain | negative | Describes an acute, sudden sting rather than an ongoing illness. |
| Clashing objects | neutral | Limited to hard, resonant materials like steel or glass, emphasizing a sharp impact. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
じっと じっと / contrast | Use when staring motionlessly, continuously, or patiently. | Does not carry the aggressive, sharp, or sudden intensity of ギンッ. | じっと見つめる。 |
ずきんずきん ずきんずきん / contrast | Use for a continuous throbbing or pulsating pain. | ギンッ is a single, sudden, and sharp sting, while ずきんずきん is a continuous throbbing. | 傷がずきんずきん痛む。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ギンッ for staring lovingly or calmly.
ギンッ implies a sharp, intense, and often aggressive glare. Use じっと for calm or prolonged staring.
Using ギンッ for a dull or throbbing headache.
ギンッ describes a sudden, sharp, stinging pain (like cold water on a bad tooth), not a dull throb. Use ズキズキ or ガンガン for headaches.
Examples
Examples
先生はうるさい生徒たちをギンッと睨んだ。
せんせいは うるさい せいとたちを ギンッと にらんだ。
The teacher glared sharply at the noisy students.
VisualFocuses on the sharp, intimidating nature of the gaze used for discipline.
冷たいアイスを食べたら、奥歯がギンッと痛んだ。
つめたい アイスを たべたら、おくばが ギンッと いたんだ。
When I ate cold ice cream, my back tooth stung sharply.
LiteralDescribes the sudden, stinging sensation typical of sensitive teeth reacting to cold.
時代劇で刀と刀がギンッと音を立ててぶつかるシーンが好きだ。
じだいげきで かたなと かたなが ギンッと おとを たてて ぶつかる シーンが すきだ。
I like the scenes in historical dramas where swords clash with a sharp metallic sound.
LiteralCaptures the sharp, resonant impact sound of metal objects clashing.
暗闇の中で猫の目がギンッと光った。
くらやみの なかで ねこの めが ギンッと ひかった。
The cat's eyes flashed sharply in the dark.
VisualUses the sharpness to describe a sudden, intense flash of light reflecting in the dark.
彼の冷たい言葉に、胸の奥がギンッとした。
かれの つめたい ことばに、むねの おくが ギンッとした。
His cold words made deep in my chest sting sharply.
FigurativeApplies the physical sensation of sharp pain to sudden emotional hurt.
Similar Words
じっと
jitto
Jitto (じっと) means keeping the body completely still, fixing one's attention unblinkingly on something, or patiently enduring a situation without reacting. じっと means staring motionlessly and continuously, without the sudden aggressive sharpness of ギンッ.
ずきんずきん
zukinzukin
ずきんずきん describes a continuous, rhythmic throbbing or pulsating physical pain, typically associated with headaches, toothaches, or wounds. ずきんずきん is used for a prolonged throbbing pain, whereas ギンッ is a momentary sharp sting.
Questions
Does ギンッ always involve sound?
No, it is frequently used visually to describe a sharp glare, or physically to describe a stinging sensation without sound.
Can I use ギンッと見つめる for romantic eye contact?
No, ギンッ has a very aggressive or intense nuance. It sounds like you are glaring furiously at the person.
Is there a difference between ギンッ and ギンギン?
Yes. ギンッ is a single, momentary action (one sharp glare or sting). ギンギン (gingin) describes a continuous state of intense stimulation, excitement, or ongoing sharp pain.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2036780
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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