Meaning

Primary

Small Bell

Alternative

Bell

Word Type

noun

Explanation

The meaning for this word comes from the kanji. It's a small bell!

typically refers to small, spherical bells that jingle or tinkle — think sleigh bells or the bell on a dog collar, or the bells hanging in Japanese shrines that visitors ring before praying (though these can range in size).

Reading

すず
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it probably uses the kun'yomi reading. You did not learn this reading, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

Someone is ringing a small bell, over and over. It's Ichiro Suzuki (すず) being obnoxious, ringing that small bell. I think he's trying to get practice started.

Context

Context Sentences

彼女は猫の首に小さな鈴をつけました。

She put a small bell on the cat's collar.

クマよけの鈴をリュックにつけて山に入った。

I attached a bear bell to my backpack and entered the mountain.

退職をきっかけに、鈴作りを始めました。

I took advantage of my retirement by starting to make small bells.

誰もいないのに夜中に悲しげな鈴の音が聞こえてきたんです。チリン…チリン…って。

Even though no one was there, in the middle of the night I heard the mournful sound of a bell — tinkle… tinkle…

Kanji Composition