Entry
じいじい
jiijii
じいじい is a sound word for the continuous sizzling of fat or meat, the chirring of cicadas, or the steady buzzing of a machine.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word represents a continuous, slightly high-pitched frictional or vibrating sound. It is commonly used to describe meat or fat sizzling on a grill, the loud summer chirring of cicadas, or the steady mechanical humming and buzzing of old electrical appliances.
- Sizzling sound of cooking fat or meat.
- Chirring or shrilling sound of cicadas.
- Mechanical buzzing or humming.
Sense Map
Cooking (Sizzling)
Describes the continuous sizzling sound of fat rendering or meat cooking on a hot surface.
肉がじいじいと焼ける
Insect Sounds
Represents the loud, continuous chirring or shrilling song of Japanese summer cicadas.
セミがじいじい鳴く
Machine & Electrical
Describes a continuous mechanical hum, electrical static noise, or the buzzing of a motor.
モーターがじいじいと鳴る
Usage Note
How to Use
じいじい(と) + verb
Often used as an adverb with 'to' modifying verbs of sound, cooking, or animal cries.
じいじい + 鳴く (for cicadas)
じいじい + 焼ける/音を立てる (for cooking/machines)
How to Use
Common Phrases
じいじいと音を立てる
to make a sizzling/buzzing sound
じいじいと鳴く
to chirp / chirr loudly (cicada)
じいじい焼ける
to sizzle while cooking
モーターがじいじい鳴る
the motor buzzes/hums
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking meat | neutral | Highlights the rendering of fat over a grill. |
| Summer cicadas | neutral | A highly seasonal sound that instantly makes Japanese speakers think of hot, sunny summer days. |
| Old machinery | negative | Usually implies an annoying, continuous hum of a failing or vibrating electrical part. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
じゅうじゅう じゅうじゅう / similar | Use 'juujuu' for a louder, juicier, and wetter sizzling sound, like a steak hitting a hot plate. | じいじい (jiijii) is for a slower, oilier, or more constant crackle of fat, whereas じゅうじゅう (juujuu) implies more moisture and vigor evaporating rapidly. | 肉がじゅうじゅう焼ける |
じりじり じりじり / similar | Use 'jirijiri' for slow, steady roasting heat (like the summer sun) or for feeling impatient and irritated. | While じりじり can describe the sound of slow burning, じいじい directly points to the mechanical hum, insect noise, or specific oily sizzle. | 太陽がじりじりと照りつける |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for the buzzing of a bee or mosquito.
For flying insects like bees, use ぶーん (buun). For mosquitoes, use ぷーん (puun). じいじい is almost exclusively for the loud, stationary chirring of cicadas.
Using it for boiling soups or stews.
Soups simmering make a ことこと (kotokoto) or ぐつぐつ (gutsugutsu) sound. じいじい is strictly for oil, fat, or dry roasting.
Examples
Examples
肉の脂がフライパンでじいじいと音を立てている。
にくのあぶらがフライパンでじいじいとおとをたてている。
The meat fat is making a sizzling sound in the frying pan.
LiteralShows the sound of fat hitting the heat and continuously sizzling.
夏になると、庭の木でセミがじいじいと鳴き始める。
なつになると、にわのきでセミがじいじいとなきはじめる。
When summer comes, cicadas start chirring in the trees in the garden.
LiteralA classic usage for the loud, continuous song of summer cicadas.
古い冷蔵庫のモーターがじいじいと唸っている。
ふるいれいぞうこのモーターがじいじいとうなっている。
The motor of the old refrigerator is humming continuously.
LiteralDescribes the mechanical vibration or hum of an electrical appliance.
網の上でホルモンがじいじい焼けていく。
あみのうえでホルモンがじいじいやけていく。
The offal is sizzling as it cooks on the grill net.
LiteralFocuses on fatty meat (horumon) gradually rendering fat and making a sizzling noise.
ラジオからじいじいというノイズが聞こえる。
ラジオからじいじいというノイズがきこえる。
A buzzing noise can be heard coming from the radio.
LiteralDescribes static or electrical noise from an audio device.
Similar Words
じゅうじゅう
juujuu
This word represents the continuous sizzling sound of food, especially meat, cooking on a hot grill or pan. A louder, juicier sizzling sound when cooking.
じりじり
jirijiri
Describes something progressing slowly but steadily, scorching heat, burning impatience, or a continuous sizzling/ringing sound. Slow burning heat or a feeling of impatience.
ミンミン
minmin
The loud, continuous buzzing or crying sound made by cicadas, particularly during the peak of summer.
Questions
Is jiijii the same as juujuu for cooking?
They are similar, but juujuu is wetter and louder (like a fresh steak hitting a pan), while jiijii is more about the steady, oily rendering of fat.
What bug makes a jiijii sound?
The cicada (semi), specifically species like the aburazemi, which produces a loud, vibrating noise in the summer.
Can I use jiijii for a ringing phone?
No. A ringing phone is usually じりり (jiriri) or りんりん (rinrin). Jiijii is more of an electrical hum or static noise.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2121300
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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