Entry
ごんごん
gongon
This word describes the heavy, resonant sound of a solid object like thick wood or metal being struck forcefully.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
ごんごん is an onomatopoeia referring to a heavy, echoing sound of repeated impacts or strikes. It is typically used to describe the sound of a large hammer, someone pounding on a thick wooden door, or a giant bell being rung. This sound carries a nuance of great force and a lingering resonance.
- Sound of striking a hard object
- Sound of thick metal or wood
- Sound of a large bell
Sense Map
Heavy Pounding
Used for the sound of pounding hard on a thick door or wall.
ドアをごんごん叩く
Metal Clanging
Used for the sound of a large bell or iron being struck forcefully.
鐘がごんごん鳴る
Usage Note
How to Use
ごんごんと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action (like striking or ringing) occurs with an emphasis on the resonant, heavy sound.
ごんごん + verb
Similar to the 'と' form, but slightly more casual, directly modifying the action producing the heavy noise.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ごんごん叩く
to pound forcefully
鐘がごんごん鳴る
a bell clangs loudly
ごんごんぶつける
to bump repeatedly with force
頭をごんごん打つ
to bang one's head repeatedly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pounding on a door | Aggressive or urgent | Implies that someone is hitting the door with all their strength, usually out of anger or an emergency. |
| Ringing a large bell | Grand and booming | Gives the impression of a very large bell made of thick metal that echoes far away. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ごつん ごつん / similar | Use for a single solid thud or bump. | ゴツン is a single, hard impact, while ごんごん implies repeated heavy banging and deep resonance. | 頭をゴツンとぶつける |
がん がん / similar | Use for a very sharp, strong metallic impact. | がん focuses on a single intensely hard hit, whereas ごんごん has a deeper, heavier ongoing resonance. | 壁をがんと蹴る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ごんごん to describe politely knocking on a door.
Use コンコン (konkon) for a polite knock. ごんごん sounds like you are pounding on the door aggressively.
Using ごんごん for the sound of dropping soft items.
ごんごん is strictly for hard objects creating a resonant noise. For soft items dropping, use something like ドサッ (dosa).
Examples
Examples
怒った男はドアをごんごんと叩いた。
おこったおとこはドアをごんごんとたたいた。
The angry man pounded heavily on the door.
LiteralDescribes repeated heavy strikes on a thick surface.
お寺の鐘がごんごんと鳴り響いている。
おてらのかねがごんごんとなりひびいている。
The temple bell is ringing out with a heavy, echoing sound.
LiteralFocuses on the deep metallic resonance of a large bell.
暗闇の中で、壁にごんごんと頭をぶつけた。
くらやみのなかで、かべにごんごんとあたまをぶつけた。
In the darkness, I banged my head heavily against the wall multiple times.
LiteralShows repeated heavy impacts against a solid surface.
工事現場から、ごんごんという重い音が聞こえてくる。
こうじげんばから、ごんごんというおもいおとがきこえてくる。
A heavy pounding sound can be heard coming from the construction site.
LiteralDescribes the heavy, echoing sound of mechanical or intense physical labor.
彼は怒りのあまり、机をごんごん叩いて抗議した。
かれはいかりのあまり、つくえをごんごんたたいてこうぎした。
Out of sheer anger, he pounded forcefully on his desk in protest.
LiteralShows the force of the physical strike reflecting intense emotion.
Similar Words
ゴツン
gotsun
ゴツン describes the solid, dull thud of two hard objects striking each other, like bumping one's head. Used for a single solid thud or bump.
がん
gan
ガン (gan) describes a heavy, solid impact sound or doing something severely, such as hitting or scolding. Focuses on a very sharp, strong metallic impact.
コンコン
konkon
A light repeated sound such as knocking on a door, a dry cough, or a fox's yelp.
Questions
Can I use ごんごん when knocking on a friend's door?
It is better not to. Use コンコン (konkon) for a normal knock. ごんごん implies you are banging on the door forcefully.
What is the difference between ごんごん and コンコン?
ごんごん describes a very heavy and loud pounding sound, while コンコン is a light tapping sound, like knocking on a door with your knuckles.
Does ごんごん imply that the object being struck is broken?
Not necessarily. This word only focuses on the loud, echoing impact sound, not on whether the object breaks.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2517030
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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