Entry
しゅー
shuu
The sound of escaping steam or gas, or a fast-moving object cutting through the air.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A phonomime (giongo) that represents the continuous, unvoiced sound of air, gas, or steam escaping under pressure, such as hissing or fizzing. It also describes the sound of a fast-moving object smoothly slicing through the air with a swish or whoosh.
- Hissing or fizzing
- Swishing or whooshing
Sense Map
Hissing or fizzing
The continuous sound of steam, air, or gas escaping under pressure, such as from a boiling pot or aerosol spray.
ガスがシューと漏れる。
Swishing or whooshing
The sound of an object moving quickly and smoothly through the air.
ボールがシューと飛んでいく。
Usage Note
How to Use
シューと + verb
シューっと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action produces a hissing or swishing sound.
シューという音
Used as a noun phrase meaning a hissing or whooshing sound.
How to Use
Common Phrases
シューと音がする
make a hissing sound
ガスがシューと
gas hisses
シューっと吹きかける
spray with a swoosh/hiss
シューと飛ぶ
fly with a swish
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Steam or gas escaping | neutral | Describes a steady hiss, like from a flat tire or a kettle. |
| Fast-moving objects | neutral | Implies a frictionless speed cutting through the air efficiently. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
しゅーしゅー しゅーしゅー / similar | When the hissing or swishing sound is continuous, repetitive, or stronger. | シューシュー implies a longer or repeated duration compared to a single シュー. | やかんがシューシュー鳴る。 |
びゅーん びゅーん / similar | When emphasizing the extreme speed and wind noise of a fast-moving object. | ビューン feels faster and carries more wind noise than the smoother シュー. | 車がビューンと通り過ぎる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for explosive or popping sounds.
シュー is specifically for smooth, unvoiced, continuous escaping air or fast movement, not sudden explosions.
Applying it to heavy, low-pitched wind sounds.
It sounds relatively light or high-pitched; low roaring winds use different words like ゴー.
Examples
Examples
タイヤから空気がシューと抜けてしまった。
タイヤから くうきが シューと ぬけて しまった。
The air hissed out of the tire.
VisualFocuses on the sound of air leaking steadily.
虫除けスプレーを腕にシューっと吹きかけた。
むしよけ スプレーを うでに シューっと ふきかけた。
I sprayed the insect repellent on my arm with a hiss.
LiteralShows the action of spraying something pressurized.
お湯が沸いて、やかんからシューという音がした。
おゆが わいて、やかんから シューと いう おとが した。
The water boiled, and there was a hissing sound from the kettle.
LiteralUses the noun pattern to mention the hissing sound of steam.
花火がシューと空へ上がっていった。
はなびが シューと そらへ あがって いった。
The firework shot up into the sky with a whoosh.
VisualDescribes the speed and sound of an object flying through the air.
ピッチャーが投げたボールがシューと風を切った。
ピッチャーが なげた ボールが シューと かぜを きった。
The ball thrown by the pitcher swished through the wind.
VisualFocuses on the smooth yet extremely fast movement.
Similar Words
シューシュー
shuushuu
This word mimics the continuous hissing sound of escaping gas or steam under pressure, or the whooshing sound of swift movement through the air. A hissing sound that lasts longer or is repeated, compared to a single シュー.
ビューン
byuun
Describes the swooshing or whizzing sound of something moving rapidly through the air. Describes an object flying extremely fast with a stronger wind sound than シュー.
Questions
Is シュー used for animal sounds like a snake hissing?
It can be, though シャー is often more common for aggressive animal hisses.
What is the difference between シュー and シューシュー?
シュー is usually a single, perhaps shorter sound, while シューシュー describes a continuous, ongoing, or repeated hissing.
Is it mostly written in hiragana or katakana?
Because it is a sound-mimicking word (giongo), it is most often written in katakana.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2836265
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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