Entry
きしり
kishiri
A fairly high, one-time creak or squeak caused by hard things rubbing, such as a floorboard or a stiff hinge.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word imitates a light friction sound that happens once and stops. It is used when a floorboard creaks under one step, an old door opens with a single squeak, or a lock rasps as the key turns. The り ending marks a brief, non-repeating sound.
- a short wooden creak
- a single hinge squeak
Sense Map
Wood creaking
Used for a light, one-time creak from floorboards or wooden structures under a brief load.
床がきしりと鳴る。
Hinge squeaking
Used for a short, fairly high squeak from a stiff door hinge, window, or furniture joint.
ドアがきしりと開く。
Usage Note
How to Use
きしりと + verb
Used with the particle と before verbs such as 鳴る or 開く to mark a single short creak.
きしりと鳴る
A direct pattern for saying that something lets out one creak.
きしりと開く
Used when a door or window opens with one squeak.
How to Use
Common Phrases
きしりと鳴る
to give a short creak
きしりと音を立てる
to make a brief squeak
きしりと開く
to open with a squeak
きしりと軋む
to creak lightly once
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stepping on a floorboard | Neutral | Suggests a quiet step that still makes the board sound once. |
| Opening an old door | Neutral | Suggests a stiff or unoiled hinge, with one sharp squeak. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
きしきし きしきし / similar | Use it when a light creak keeps happening, for example all along a wooden hallway. | きしり is one brief sound. きしきし marks a creak that comes again and again. | 床がきしきし鳴る。 |
ぎしぎし ぎしぎし / contrast | Use it when more weight makes a harsher, deeper, repeated creak. | きしり is light and happens once. ギシギシ is heavier and keeps going. | 床がギシギシ鳴る。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using きしり for the ongoing creak of people walking on wooden floors.
きしり is only for a single sound. For a light repeated creak, use きしきし.
Using きしり for teeth grinding.
きしり is for inanimate friction such as wood or hinges. For teeth, use ぎりぎり.
Examples
Examples
床板が一枚だけ、きしりと鳴った。
ゆかいたがいちまいだけ、きしりとなった。
A single floorboard gave a short creak.
LiteralIndicates a wooden floor making a brief noise when stepped on.
重い木箱を動かすと、床がきしりと音を立てた。
おもいきばこをうごかすと、ゆかがきしりとおとをたてた。
When moving the heavy wooden box, the floor let out a short creak.
LiteralShows the weight of the box causing floorboards to rub together once.
古いドアがきしりと開いて、誰かが入ってきた。
ふるいドアがきしりとひらいて、だれかがはいってきた。
The old door opened with a short squeak, and someone came in.
LiteralDescribes the sound of a dry hinge on an old door.
椅子に座り直すと、金具がきしりと鳴った。
いすにすわりなおすと、かなぐがきしりとなった。
When I readjusted my posture in the chair, the metal fittings gave a short squeak.
LiteralFocuses on the sound of furniture joints shifting under weight.
鍵を回すと、錠前がきしりと軋んだ。
かぎをまわすと、じょうまえがきしりときしんだ。
When I turned the key, the lock squeaked slightly.
LiteralThe friction sound inside an old mechanical lock.
Similar Words
きしきし
kishikishi
Kishikishi represents a light, repetitive squeaking or creaking sound caused by the friction of dry or hard objects like wooden floorboards. The repeated version: a light creak that happens again and again, not just once.
ギシギシ
gishigishi
ギシギシ (gishigishi) describes a harsh creaking or squeaking sound from friction, or the state of being densely packed and pressured. Heavier and repeated: a harsher creak from more weight or stronger friction.
Questions
Can きしり be used for grinding teeth?
No. This word is for inanimate friction such as wood or hinges. For teeth, ぎりぎり is a better fit.
How is きしり different from きしきし?
Both mark a creak. きしり is one short sound. きしきし is a light creak that repeats.
Is this considered a loud noise?
Usually not. It is a light creak that stands out in a quiet place, not a sound that fills the room.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2453820
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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