Here is another fascinating Japanese pair that sounds identical but is written with different kanji: 泣き声 (なきごえ) and 鳴き声 (なきごえ). Both are read nakigoe, but one refers to a human’s crying voice, and the other to the sounds animals make. Context usually makes it clear — but knowing the kanji difference is essential.
| 泣き声 (nakigoe) | 鳴き声 (nakigoe) | |
|---|---|---|
| Kanji | 泣 = to cry (human tears) | 鳴 = to make a sound (animal/bird/bell) |
| Meaning | The sound of crying (human) | The cry, call, or sound of an animal |
| Subject | Babies, people | Dogs, cats, birds, frogs, insects… |
| Example | 赤ちゃんの泣き声 | 犬の鳴き声 |
泣き声 — The Sound of a Person Crying
泣き声 (泣く + 声) literally means “crying voice.” It refers to the sound a person (usually a baby or child, but can be an adult) makes when they cry.
- 赤ちゃんの泣き声が聞こえた。— I heard the sound of a baby crying.
- 隣の部屋から泣き声がした。— There was the sound of crying from the next room.
- その映画を見て、泣き声が止まらなかった。— After watching that movie, I couldn’t stop crying.
- かすかな泣き声が聞こえた。— I heard a faint sound of crying.
Key: the kanji 泣 (泣く, naku) specifically means “to cry (with tears)” — a human emotional response.
鳴き声 — The Sound an Animal Makes
鳴き声 (鳴く + 声) refers to the natural sounds animals make — barking, meowing, chirping, croaking, buzzing. In Japanese, all of these are covered by the verb 鳴く (なく).
- 犬の鳴き声がうるさい。— The dog’s barking is loud.
- 鳥の鳴き声で目が覚めた。— I woke up to the sound of birds singing.
- カエルの鳴き声が聞こえる。— I can hear the frogs croaking.
- 猫の鳴き声がかわいい。— The cat’s meowing is cute.
Key: the kanji 鳴 (鳴く, naku) means “to make a sound” — used for animals, birds, insects, and even bells or instruments ringing.
The Verb なく — Two Kanji, Same Sound
| Verb | Kanji | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| なく | 泣く | Humans crying (emotional) | 子どもが泣く (a child cries) |
| なく | 鳴く | Animals/birds making sounds | 犬が鳴く (a dog barks) |
Both the verb and the noun compounds share the same pronunciation. In spoken Japanese, context makes it clear — “the baby’s なきごえ” is obviously 泣き声, while “the crow’s なきごえ” is obviously 鳴き声.
Is the subject a PERSON (baby, child, adult)?
→ 泣き声 (crying voice — human tears)
Is the subject an ANIMAL, BIRD, or INSECT?
→ 鳴き声 (animal call/sound)Natural Conversations
あれ、赤ちゃんの泣き声がするね。— Hey, I can hear a baby crying.
ほんとだ。隣の部屋かな。— You’re right. Maybe it’s the next room.
朝、鳥の鳴き声で起きちゃった。— I woke up to bird calls this morning.
それは気持ちいい目覚め方だね！— That sounds like a pleasant way to wake up!
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 鳴き声 for a baby’s cry.
❌ 赤ちゃんの鳴き声 (This sounds like you’re comparing a baby to an animal.)
✅ 赤ちゃんの泣き声
Tip: If you’re not sure which to write, just check: Is it a person crying emotionally? → 泣. Is it an animal making its natural sound? → 鳴.
Quick Quiz
Choose the right kanji (泣き声 or 鳴き声):
1. 夜中に猫の___がして眠れなかった。 (I couldn’t sleep because of the cat’s crying at night.)
2. 映画のラストシーンで子どもの___が聞こえた。 (I heard a child’s crying sound in the final scene of the movie.)
Answers: 1. 鳴き声 2. 泣き声
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