Entry
ピシャン
pishan
ピシャン is an onomatopoeia describing a sharp, quick sound of a slap, a splat, or a light slam.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word mimics the crisp, sudden sound made by a flat object hitting a surface, a relatively light door or window shutting abruptly, or a quick splash of liquid hitting the ground or wall.
- sharp slam/slap
- splashing/splatting
Sense Map
Slamming / Slapping
Indicates the sharp sound of flat objects colliding quickly, like shutting a light door sharply or slapping a table.
ドアがピシャンと閉まる。
Splashing
Indicates the quick, sharp sound of a liquid or mud splashing against a solid surface.
水がピシャンとはねる。
Usage Note
How to Use
ピシャンと + action verb (close, hit, splash)
ピシャンと + 音がする (make a sound)
Expresses that a sharp slapping or splashing sound is directly heard.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ピシャンと閉める
shut with a sharp slam
水がピシャンとはねる
water splashes sharply
ピシャンと叩く
slap sharply
ピシャンと音がする
makes a sharp slapping/slamming sound
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Closing doors/windows | Neutral to slightly negative | Often implies the door was shut by a strong wind or slammed angrily. |
| Liquid splashing | Neutral | Describes a small amount of liquid splashing sharply onto a surface. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぴしゃり ぴしゃり / similar | Used for a similar sharp impact or a flat refusal, but often implies a more deliberate, final action. | Pishari is frequently used for flat, figurative refusals (turning someone down flat) or shutting something as a final gesture, whereas pishan focuses purely on the sharp momentary sound. | 扉をぴしゃりと閉める |
ぴしゃっと ぴしゃっと / similar | Used when emphasizing the suddenness and exactness of a sharp impact or splash. | Pishatto highlights the abrupt state change or closing tightly, while pishan is more about mimicking the raw acoustic sound itself. | 水がピシャッとはねる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for massive, heavy impacts like a car crash.
Use it only for sharp, lighter impacts (like a thin door slamming, a hand slap, or splashing water). For heavy crashes, use words like ドカン (dokan) or ガチャン (gachan).
Using it for the sound of continuous running water.
It describes a single, sharp splash or splat, not a continuous stream or flow (which would be ジャージャー - jaajaa).
Examples
Examples
風で窓がピシャンと閉まった。
かぜでまどがピシャンとしまった。
The window shut sharply due to the wind.
LiteralDescribes the sharp sound of a light window snapping shut from the wind.
車が水たまりを通って、水がピシャンとはねた。
くるまがみずたまりをとおって、みずがピシャンとはねた。
The car passed through a puddle, splashing water sharply.
LiteralShows the sound of water being thrown up instantly.
彼女は怒って、テーブルをピシャンと叩いた。
かのじょはおこって、テーブルをピシャンとたたいた。
She angrily slapped the table sharply.
LiteralDescribes a flat hand striking a flat surface hard.
ドアをピシャンと閉めて、彼は部屋を出て行った。
ドアをピシャンとしめて、かれはへやをでていった。
He shut the door sharply and left the room.
LiteralThis context is often associated with shutting a door while annoyed.
泥が壁にピシャンと飛んできた。
どろがかべにピシャンととんできた。
Mud splattered sharply onto the wall.
VisualDescribes both the speed of the mud flying and its splatting sound on the wall.
Similar Words
ぴしゃり
pishari
Pishari describes a sharp slapping or splashing sound, a door slamming, or a flat, abrupt refusal. A variant often used for figurative flat refusals.
ピシャッと
pishatto
The sharp sound or action of a flat slap, a wet splat, or forcefully shutting something. Emphasizes the final, tightly-shut state of a sudden impact.
Questions
Is pishan the same as batan (バタン)?
No. Batan is for heavier, more massive impacts (like a heavy wooden door), while pishan is for lighter, higher-pitched, sharper impacts (like a thin screen door).
Can I use pishan for hitting a person?
Yes, it can represent the sound of a sharp slap (e.g., slapping a cheek), as it involves two flat surfaces colliding quickly.
Does it have a figurative meaning?
While its variant 'pishari' is heavily used figuratively for flat refusals, 'pishan' is generally reserved for the literal physical sound.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2869849
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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