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Entry

コンコン

konkon

A light repeated sound such as knocking on a door, a dry cough, or a fox's yelp.

Meaning

Quick Meaning

Konkon is a versatile mimetic word most commonly used for the sound of light, dry tapping or knocking, like on a wooden door. It also conventionally represents a persistent dry cough, the sound of a fox yelping, and the quiet, steady accumulation of falling snow.

  • Light knock
  • Dry cough
  • Fox bark
  • Falling snow

Sense Map

Knocking

A light, repeated tapping sound, usually on wood or a hard surface.

ドアをコンコンと叩く

Dry cough

A light, dry, and often persistent coughing sound without phlegm.

コンコンと咳をする

Fox yelp

The traditional mimetic sound for a fox's yelp.

キツネがコンコンと鳴く

Snowing

Describes snow falling and accumulating quietly and steadily, often used in nursery rhymes.

雪がコンコンと降る

Usage Note

How to Use

  • コンコンと + verb

    Used as an adverb before verbs (like knocking or coughing) to describe how the action is performed.

  • コンコン + verb

    Same as above but without the 'to' particle, often sounding slightly more casual.

  • コンコンする

    Direct verb form meaning 'to make a light knocking or coughing sound'.

How to Use

Common Phrases

コンコンと叩く

to knock lightly

咳がコンコンと出る

to have a persistent dry cough

ドアをコンコンする

to knock on the door

雪がコンコンと降る

snow falls steadily

キツネがコンコンと鳴く

a fox barks/yelps

Nuance

Context Nuance

Common ContextsNuanceUsage Note
Knocking on doors or hard objectsNeutralThis is the standard, polite sound of knocking on a door before entering a room.
CoughingNeutral to negativeRefers to a dry, non-productive cough, often light or persistent without phlegm.
Animals and NatureNeutralThe standard conventional sound for foxes and the quiet accumulation of snow in folklore and songs.

Similar Words

Comparison Table

Similar WordsWhen to UseNot the Same asMini Example

とんとん

とんとん / similar

Use 'tonton' for a very light, continuous, and often more rhythmic tapping, or when things proceed smoothly.Tonton feels lighter and softer, whereas konkon has a slightly harder, drier, and more distinct acoustic edge.ドアをとんとんと叩く

ごんごん

ごんごん / similar

Use 'gongon' for very loud, heavy, and forceful bashing or banging.Gongon implies aggressive or heavy impacts, unlike the normal, polite light knocking of konkon.ドアをごんごん叩く

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Using konkon for a heavy, wet, or chesty cough.

Konkon specifically denotes a dry, light cough. For a deep, phlegmy cough, gohogoho is more natural.

Using konkon for aggressive or loud pounding on a door.

Konkon is a polite, light knock. For loud banging, use dondon or gongon.

Examples

Examples

ドアをコンコンとノックして、部屋に入った。

ドア を コンコン と ノック して、 へや に はいった。

I knocked on the door tap-tap and entered the room.

LiteralKnocking on a wooden door

Source: Internal

風邪を引いたのか、朝からコンコンと咳が出る。

かぜ を ひいた のか、 あさ から コンコン と せき が でる。

Perhaps I caught a cold; I've had a dry cough since morning.

LiteralA dry cough without phlegm

Source: Internal

外を見ると、雪がコンコンと降っていた。

そと を みると、 ゆき が コンコン と ふって いた。

When I looked outside, the snow was falling steadily and quietly.

VisualSnow accumulating steadily

Source: Internal

森の奥からキツネがコンコンと鳴く声が聞こえた。

もり の おく から キツネ が コンコン と なく こえ が きこえた。

I heard the sound of a fox yelping 'konkon' from deep in the forest.

LiteralTraditional Japanese sound for a fox

Source: Internal

箱をコンコンと叩いて中身が空かどうか確かめた。

はこ を コンコン と たたいて なかみ が から か どうか たしかめた。

I tapped on the box to check whether it was empty inside.

LiteralLightly tapping a hard object

Source: Internal

Similar Words

ごんごん

gongon

similar

Heavy/hard pounding

Questions

Can konkon be used for any kind of knocking?

Konkon is best for light tapping on hard materials, especially wood like a door. For metallic sounds, kankan or kachikachi are better.

When do I use konkon for snow?

Konkon is often used in literature or children's songs to describe snow falling steadily and quietly accumulating, even though snow makes no actual sound.

Why do foxes say konkon?

In Japanese folklore and culture, konkon is the conventional onomatopoeia for a fox's yelp, similar to how 'woof' represents a dog.

Source Details

Entry ID
1004870
Source
JMdict_english
Revision
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Review notes
No special notes
Active language
English
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