Quotes
Japanese meaning of ざわ…ざわ…
— Narrator ／ Kaiji
Reading:
Voice sample:
ざわ…ざわ… (zawa... zawa...)
English Translation:
murmur... murmur...
Original Scene & Cultural Context
Scene in the Original Work:
In "Kaiji," this sound effect is used in tense or suspenseful gambling scenes to convey an uneasy or restless atmosphere among the crowd.
日本語で読む
『カイジ』で、緊張感や不安が高まるギャンブルの場面で群衆のざわつきを表す擬音語。
Cultural Context:
Extremely famous as a Japanese onomatopoeia. Used in manga, anime, and even online to humorously signal tension, suspense, or an awkward atmosphere in any situation.
日本語で読む
日本の擬音語の中でも屈指の有名表現。漫画・アニメだけでなく、ネットや日常でも、緊張・不安・微妙な空気感を面白おかしく示す時に多用される。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Onomatopoeia for murmuring or unease. Repetition of “ざわ” with ellipses for effect.
日本語で読む
ざわ（ざわざわ）：人々のざわめきや不安な雰囲気を表す擬音。
Trap for English Speakers
Don’t try to translate “ざわ” directly—it’s a sound effect, not an actual word. Best to keep it as onomatopoeia or use “murmur” or “buzz.”
日本語で読む
「ざわ」は直訳できない日本語特有の擬音語で、そのまま"zawa"や"murmur"と訳されることが多い。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
会議で予想外の発表があり、部屋がざわついた時、心の中で「ざわ…ざわ…」とつぶやく。
At a meeting, when an unexpected announcement is made and the room gets restless, I think to myself, “zawa… zawa…”
Example 2Applied Example
テストの答案が返却される直前、教室に緊張感が漂う中、「ざわ…ざわ…」
Right before test results are handed back, with tension in the air: “zawa… zawa…”
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「ざわ…ざわ…」 mean?