Readings: キョウ (Onyomi), ひびく (Kunyomi)
Meaning: echo, sound, vibrate, resound, ring, affect, influence
The kanji 響 (kyō) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 音 (oto), meaning “sound,” which acts as the semantic component, and 郷 (kyō), which means “village” or “countryside” and serves as the phonetic component, indicating the sound ‘kyō’. Together, it evokes the idea of a sound reverberating or echoing through an area, like sounds carrying across the countryside.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 響 consists of 20 strokes. It is composed of the 音 (sound) radical on the left and 郷 (village/countryside) on the right. Follow the standard stroke order for each component, starting with 音, then moving to 郷. Pay attention to the balance and flow for proper formation.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 音 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 20 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キョウ (Kyō)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ひびく (hibiku)
Common Words Using 響
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 反響 | はんきょう | echo, repercussions, reverberation |
| 影響 | えいきょう | influence, effect, impact |
| 音響 | おんきょう | sound, acoustics |
| 響板 | きょうばん | soundboard (of a musical instrument) |
| 交響曲 | こうきょうきょく | symphony |
| 残響 | ざんきょう | reverberation, afterglow |
| 響応 | きょうおう | response, echo (to a call) |
| 響き渡る | ひびきわたる | to resound far and wide |
| 内響 | ないきょう | internal sound (less common) |
| 響音 | きょうおん | resonant sound (technical term) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 響く | ひびく | to resound, echo, ring, vibrate, affect |
| 響き | ひびき | sound, echo, reverberation, resonance, effect, impression |
| 響かす | ひびかす | to make (something) resound, cause to echo |
| 響き渡る | ひびきわたる | to resound far and wide, echo throughout |
| 心に響く | こころにひびく | to resonate with one’s heart, to touch one’s heart |
| 響き合う | ひびきあう | to resonate with each other, to echo each other |
| 響きが良い | ひびきがよい | to have a good sound/resonance |
| 響きにくい | ひびきにくい | hard to resonate, not prone to echoing |
| 響き始める | ひびきはじめる | to begin to resound |
| 響き続ける | ひびきつづける | to continue to resound |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 鐘の音が遠くまで響いた。
Kana: かねのねがとおくまでひびいた。
Romaji: Kane no ne ga tooku made hibiita.
English: The sound of the bell echoed far away.
Japanese: 彼の言葉は私の心に深く響いた。
Kana: かれのことばはわたしのこころにふかくひびいた。
Romaji: Kare no kotoba wa watashi no kokoro ni fukaku hibiita.
English: His words deeply resonated with my heart.
Japanese: このコンサートホールは音響が良い。
Kana: このコンサートホールはおんきょうがよい。
Romaji: Kono konsāto hōru wa onkyō ga yoi.
English: This concert hall has good acoustics.
Japanese: 大声が洞窟に反響した。
Kana: おおごえがどうくつにはんきょうした。
Romaji: Ōgoe ga dōkutsu ni hankyō shita.
English: A loud voice echoed in the cave.
Japanese: その出来事が社会に大きな影響を与えた。
Kana: そのできごとがしゃかいにおおきなえいきょうをあたえた。
Romaji: Sono dekigoto ga shakai ni ookina eikyō wo ataeta.
English: That incident had a significant impact on society.
Japanese: 彼女の歌声は会場全体に響き渡った。
Kana: かのじょのうたごえはかいじょうぜんたいにひびきわたった。
Romaji: Kanojo no utagoe wa kaijō zentai ni hibikiwatatta.
English: Her singing voice resonated throughout the entire venue.
Japanese: 雷鳴が轟音を響かせた。
Kana: らいめいがごうおんをひびかせた。
Romaji: Raimei ga gōon wo hibikaseta.
English: The thunder roared with a booming sound.
Japanese: 彼のスピーチは聴衆に強い響きを与えた。
Kana: かれのスピーチはちょうしゅうにつよいひびきをあたえた。
Romaji: Kare no supīchi wa chōshū ni tsuyoi hibiki wo ataeta.
English: His speech left a strong impression on the audience.
Japanese: 壁が薄いので隣の音が響いてくる。
Kana: かべがうすいのでとなりのねがひびいてくる。
Romaji: Kabe ga usui node tonari no ne ga hibiite kuru.
English: Since the wall is thin, the sound from next door echoes through.
Japanese: この曲のメロディーは心に響くものがある。
Kana: このきょくのメロディーはこころにひびくものがある。
Romaji: Kono kyoku no merodī wa kokoro ni hibiku mono ga aru.
English: This song’s melody has something that resonates with the heart.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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