Entry
りんりん
rinrin
A word that mimics the continuous, clear ringing sound of a small bell or a telephone.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Represents the clear, continuous ringing or chiming sound of a small metallic object. It is most commonly used to describe the ringing of a bicycle bell, a wind chime, or the mechanical trill of an old-fashioned telephone.
- Ringing of small bells
- Ringing of a telephone
Sense Map
Small Bells
The clear trill or chiming of small bells, wind chimes, or bicycle bells.
風鈴がりんりんと鳴る
Telephones
The continuous trill of a ringing telephone, especially older mechanical ones.
電話がりんりん鳴る
Usage Note
How to Use
りんりんと
Used as an adverb with the quotation particle 'to', directly modifying verbs like 'naru' (to ring) or 'narasu' (to ring something).
りんりん鳴る
Directly modifying the verb without the particle 'to', focusing on the continuous ringing state.
How to Use
Common Phrases
りんりんと鳴る
to ring continuously
りんりん鳴らす
to ring a bell
りんりんと音がする
there is a ringing sound
電話がりんりん
telephone goes rin-rin
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Small metallic objects like bicycle bells or wind chimes | neutral | Evokes a pleasant, clear, and high-pitched metallic sound. |
| Telephones | neutral | Strongly associated with old-fashioned rotary phones, giving a nostalgic or mechanical feel. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ちりんちりん ちりんちりん / similar | When describing a softer, intermittent, or less forceful chiming, often for a bicycle bell or small wind chime. | It sounds lighter and more scattered than the continuous trill of rinrin. | ベルがちりんちりんと鳴る |
ちん ちん / contrast | When describing a single, short, metallic ding, such as a microwave or a desk bell. | It is a single sound, whereas rinrin represents a continuous, repeated ringing. | ベルをチンと鳴らす |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a digital beep.
It is specifically for physical, metallic bells and mechanical telephones, not digital electronic sounds.
Using it for large, heavy bells.
It is only for small, high-pitched bells. Heavy bells, like temple bells, use 'gōn'.
Examples
Examples
自転車のベルをりんりんと鳴らして通り過ぎた。
じてんしゃのベルをりんりんとならしてとおりすぎた。
They passed by, ringing their bicycle bell with a clear trill.
LiteralDescribes the clear sound of a bicycle bell.
古い電話機がりんりんと鳴っている。
ふるいでんわきがりんりんと鳴っている。
The old telephone is ringing continuously.
LiteralRepresents the mechanical ring of an old-fashioned telephone.
軒先で風鈴がりんりんと涼しげな音を立てている。
のきさきでふうりんがりんりんとすずしげなおとをたてている。
The wind chime under the eaves is making a cool, ringing sound.
LiteralDescribes the clear chime of a wind bell swaying in the breeze.
どこかの部屋から電話がりんりん鳴る音が聞こえる。
どこかのへやからでんわがりんりんなるおとがきこえる。
I can hear the sound of a telephone ringing from some room.
LiteralFocuses on the continuous ringing state without the particle 'to'.
熊よけの鈴をりんりんと鳴らしながら山道を歩いた。
くまよけのすずをりんりんと鳴らしながらやまみちをあるいた。
We walked along the mountain path while ringing the bear bell continuously.
LiteralShows usage for a small bell that jingles steadily as someone walks.
Similar Words
ちりんちりん
chirinchirin
The high-pitched, repetitive jingling sound of a small bell, such as a bicycle bell or a wind chime. Similar but softer or more intermittent ringing.
チン
chin
A short "ding" sound of a small bell or timer, most commonly used as a casual verb meaning to heat food in a microwave. A single, short ding sound.
Questions
Can I use this for a smartphone ringtone?
Usually no, unless the ringtone is specifically set to a vintage mechanical telephone sound.
Is it used for doorbells?
No, doorbells usually use 'pinpon'. 'Rinrin' is for trilling or continuous chiming bells.
Does it describe a single strike of a bell?
No, it represents continuous or repeated ringing. A single strike is often 'chin'.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1648230
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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