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 Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Knocking on doors or hard objects | Neutral | This is the standard, polite sound of knocking on a door before entering a room. |
| Coughing | Neutral to negative | Refers to a dry, non-productive cough, often light or persistent without phlegm. |
| Animals and Nature | Neutral | The standard conventional sound for foxes and the quiet accumulation of snow in folklore and songs. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini 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
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
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
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
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
Similar Words
ごんごん
gongon
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
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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