HOME > WordMaster® > LOUD/QUIET/SOFT | (音や声が)大きい/小さい、静かな/穏やかな
2008.03.27(Review of 2004.10.07 edition)
GREETINGS! IT'S G-R-E-A-T TO SEEEEEEE YOU!!!!!
Now, here's something else to shout about!
LOUD / QUIET / SOFT
(音や声が)大きい/小さい、静かな/穏やかな
- If something or someone is loud, they make a lot of (often unpleasant) sound.
If something or someone is quiet, they are NOT loud or they make no sound at all.
If a sound - for example, a voice, a noise, or music - is soft, it is NOT loud and is often pleasant or gentle.
Be Careful! Rather than say that a sound is “big” or “small” - as in the Japanese expressions (音や声が)大きい/小さい - it's more common to say that it's loud, quiet, or soft. - ものや人について loud を使うと、ものや人が(多くは、不愉快な)音を盛んに立てる、つまり、音が大きい、という意味になります。
反対に、quiet は、物音や人の声が大きくはない、あるいは、まったく音を立てない、という意味です。
声や物音、音楽について、soft と言うと、その音が大きくなく、心地よい、または、やさしい、という意味になります。
注意:日本語では、音や声が「大きい/小さい」と言いますが、英語では、big や small ではなく、loud、quiet、もしくは soft を使います。
- (a mother to her teenage son at 11 p.m.)
Billy, your loud music is going to wake up the neighbors. Turn it down, now! - Frank and Bill sometimes get so loud you can hear them from the other end of the building.
- Your dishwasher is so quiet - you can barely hear it!
- She's always been a quiet girl.
- (teacher to two students who are talking)
Nancy, Greta, please be quiet. Some students haven't finished the test yet. - She has a beautiful, soft voice. I could listen to her speak all day!
- I usually relax after work by reading on the sofa or listening to soft music in the bath.
Bye!