Entry
ぎゃあぎゃあ
gyaagyaa
A loud, continuous noise made by crying babies, squawking animals, or complaining people.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes loud, harsh, and often unpleasant continuous vocal noises. It is commonly used for a baby's piercing cries, animals squawking, or people obnoxiously complaining and making a fuss.
- Loud crying (babies/children)
- Squawking (animals)
- Noisy complaining
Sense Map
Loud Crying
Describes a very loud, piercing crying sound, typically from a fussy baby or a child throwing a tantrum.
赤ちゃんがぎゃあぎゃあ泣く
Animal Noises
Describes the harsh, high-pitched squawking or squealing of animals, such as crows or monkeys.
鳥がぎゃあぎゃあ鳴く
Loud Complaining
Describes the act of someone constantly complaining, arguing, or protesting in a loud, annoying manner.
文句をぎゃあぎゃあ言う
Usage Note
How to Use
ぎゃあぎゃあ泣く
Used when someone (usually a baby) cries very loudly and harshly.
ぎゃあぎゃあ言う
Used when someone complains, nags, or argues loudly and annoyingly.
ぎゃあぎゃあ騒ぐ
Used when people or children make a loud, disruptive fuss or ruckus.
ぎゃあぎゃあと
Functions as an adverb with the particle 'to' to modify the following verb.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぎゃあぎゃあ泣く
to cry loudly (and piercingly)
ぎゃあぎゃあ言う
to complain noisily / to squabble
ぎゃあぎゃあ騒ぐ
to make a loud fuss / to clamor
ぎゃあぎゃあ鳴く
to squawk / to caw (animals)
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Baby crying | neutral/negative | Emphasizes the ear-piercing volume of the cry. |
| Adult complaining | strongly negative | Shows the speaker's irritation towards the person making unreasonable or persistent complaints. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
きゃーきゃー きゃーきゃー / similar | Used for shrieks of joy, fear, or excitement (typically by women or children). | Unlike ぎゃあぎゃあ which is harsh and annoying, キャーキャー often has a positive connotation of excitement. | ファンがキャーキャー叫ぶ |
ぶーぶー ぶーぶー / contrast | Used for continuous, low-level complaining or grumbling (like a pig's oink). | ブーブー is a lower-pitched grumbling or murmuring complaint, while ぎゃあぎゃあ is loud and piercing. | 文句をブーブー言う |
わいわい わいわい / contrast | Used for the boisterous, lively noise of a crowd having fun. | ワイワイ describes a pleasant, festive bustling noise, completely lacking the annoying harshness of ぎゃあぎゃあ. | みんなでワイワイ騒ぐ |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe a lively, fun party.
Use 'waiwai' (ワイワイ) for fun, lively crowds. 'Gyaagyaa' always implies a harsh, annoying noise.
Using it to describe an adult weeping in sadness.
Gyaagyaa is too harsh and is mostly for screaming tantrums. For sad crying, use 'shikushiku' (しくしく) for quiet sobbing or 'waawaa' (わあわあ) for bawling.
Examples
Examples
赤ちゃんが夜中にぎゃあぎゃあ泣いて、全然眠れなかった。
あかちゃんがよなかにぎゃあぎゃあないて、ぜんぜんねむれなかった。
The baby cried loudly in the middle of the night, and I couldn't sleep at all.
LiteralUsed for a baby's very loud, ear-piercing cry.
ゴミ捨て場にカラスが集まって、ギャーギャー鳴いている。
ゴミすてばにカラスがあつまって、ギャーギャーないている。
Crows have gathered at the garbage dump and are squawking loudly.
LiteralDescribes the noisy sounds of birds or animals. Often written in katakana.
済んだことに対して、ぎゃあぎゃあ言うのはやめなさい。
すんだことにたいして、ぎゃあぎゃあいうのはやめなさい。
Stop complaining so loudly about things that are already done.
FigurativeIndicates persistent and annoying complaining.
隣の部屋で子供たちがぎゃあぎゃあ騒いでいて、仕事に集中できない。
となりのへやでこどもたちがぎゃあぎゃあさわいでいて、しごとにしゅうちゅうできない。
The children are making a loud ruckus in the next room, so I can't concentrate on my work.
LiteralDescribes the noisy clamor of a group of disruptive children.
少し待たせただけで、彼はぎゃあぎゃあと文句を言い始めた。
すこしまたせただけで、かれはぎゃあぎゃあとちもんくをいいはじめた。
Just because I made him wait a little, he started complaining loudly.
FigurativeUses 'to' to modify the verb, showing the manner in which he complained.
Similar Words
キャーキャー
kyaakyaa
キャーキャー describes high-pitched squealing or shrieking, typically out of excitement, fear, or the sound of monkeys chattering. Also a loud, high-pitched noise, but kyaakyaa is usually for shrieks of joy, excitement, or fear.
ブーブー
buubuu
Represents the sound of honking, vibrating, a pig oinking, or persistent complaining. Both relate to complaining, but buubuu is low-pitched grumbling, while gyaagyaa is loud and piercing.
ワイワイ
waiwai
This word describes the loud, energetic noise of many people having fun, persistently complaining, or crying loudly. Both describe noisy situations, but waiwai is a positive, fun bustling noise.
ガーガー
gaagaa
A harsh, loud, and repetitive sound, such as ducks quacking, heavy snoring, angry complaining, or broken speakers.
つべこべ
tsubekobe
Tsubekobe describes the annoying act of complaining, making petty excuses, or talking back, especially to avoid doing something.
Questions
Is 'gyaagyaa' only used for human voices?
No, it is frequently used for loud, harsh animal sounds, particularly birds like crows or seagulls.
Can I say my boss is 'gyaagyaa' complaining?
You can, but only behind their back. It is a highly disrespectful term that implies their words are just annoying noise.
What's the difference between 'gyaagyaa' and 'waawaa' for crying?
'Waawaa' is a standard loud bawling sound ('wah wah'). 'Gyaagyaa' is more shrill, harsh, and grating, like a child screaming in a tantrum.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2007820
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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