Translation and Meaning of: 反響 - hankyou

The word 「反響」 (hankyou) is composed of two kanji: 「反」 (han) and 「響」 (kyou). In etymology, 「反」 generally means "opposition" or "return," and 「響」 means "echo" or "resonance." Together, these characters form an expression that denotes "echo" or "response" in the sense of something that reverberates back, whether a physical sound, or metaphorically, a reaction to an action or event.

Historically, the idea of echo and resonance has a strong cultural and philosophical symbolism in Japanese thought, often associated with how actions and intentions reflect in the world around us. The expression 「反響」 captures this essence, reminding us that what we emit – in sound, actions, or thoughts – eventually finds a way back. That is, every action provokes a reaction.

In contemporary language, "反響" is widely used to describe public response or feedback regarding events, artworks, or any phenomenon that sparks interest or reaction. In urban contexts, it is not uncommon to use the word to describe the attention a social media campaign might receive, for example. The ability to measure this response is crucial for understanding the impact that any message or action may have on society. Variations such as "反響する" (hankyousuru) indicate the action of resonating or provoking a response.

In summary, the notion of 「反響」 remains relevant in various spheres, from acoustics to literature to marketing. The concept reminds us of the interconnection and responsiveness inherent in human and natural interactions, highlighting the importance of considering the possible reverberations of our actions. The word translates to a dynamic interaction between the sender and the receiver, a continuous dance of sound and response that defines the shared human experience. Thus, whether hearing the echo of our own voices in the mountains or receiving feedback from the modern world, 「反響」 illuminates the power of return.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 反響 (hankyō) - Eco, repercussion
• 響き (hibiki) - Sound, resonance
• 反響音 (hankyōon) - Sound of echo
• 反響効果 (hankyō kōka) - echo effect
• 反響現象 (hankyō genshō) - echo phenomenon
• 反響波 (hankyōha) - echo waves
• 響き声 (hibikigoe) - resonant voice
• 響き渡る (hibikiwataru) - spread sound
• 響き合う (hibikiau) - mutual support
• 響き止む (hibikiyamu) - cease the resonant sound
• 響き返す (hibikikaesu) - echo back
• 響き渡る音 (hibikiwataru on) - resonant sound
• 響き渡る場所 (hibikiwataru basho) - place where sound resonates
• 響き渡る声 (hibikiwataru koe) - resonating voice
• 響き渡るように (hibikiwataru yō ni) - so that it resonates

反響

Romaji: hankyou
Kana: はんきょう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: echo; reverberation; repercussion; reaction; influence

Meaning in English: echo;reverberation;repercussion;reaction;influence

Definition: Things that affect others.

Example Sentences - (反響) hankyou

See below some example sentences:

この新しい製品には多くの反響がありました。

Kono atarashii seihin ni wa ooku no hankyō ga arimashita

This new product had a lot of repercussions.

This new product got a lot of response.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here" in Japanese
• 新しい - adjective that means "new" in Japanese
• 製品 - noun that means "product" in Japanese
• には - particle that indicates the existence of something in a specific place or time in Japanese
• 多くの - an adjective that means "many" in Japanese
• 反響 - noun that means "reaction" or "response" in Japanese
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence in Japanese
• ありました - verb that means "there was" or "existed" in Japanese, in the polite past