HOME > WordMaster® > LOUD/QUIET/SOFT | (音や声が)大きい/小さい、静かな/穏やかな

For Life
2008.03.27(Review of 2004.10.07 edition)

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Today's LessonCATEGORY: ジャパニーズイングリッシュ
LOUD / QUIET / SOFT
(音や声が)大きい/小さい、静かな/穏やかな

Explanation

  • 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、loudquiet、もしくは soft を使います。

LOUD / QUIET / SOFT

examples

  1. (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!
  2. Frank and Bill sometimes get so loud you can hear them from the other end of the building.
  3. Your dishwasher is so quiet - you can barely hear it!
  4. She's always been a quiet girl.
  5. (teacher to two students who are talking)
    Nancy, Greta, please be quiet. Some students haven't finished the test yet.
  6. She has a beautiful, soft voice. I could listen to her speak all day!
  7. I usually relax after work by reading on the sofa or listening to soft music in the bath.

英会話レッスンBye!