JLPT N1 Advanced
ざわざわ
Indistinct murmuring of a crowd, rustling sounds, or an unsettled feeling.
Readings
Other forms
ザワザワ katakana form
ざわざわする verb form
ざわざわと adverbial form
1 Adverb (fukushi), Suru verb
Murmur" / "Commotion
Describes the noisy, indistinct background hum of a crowd where individual voices cannot be made out.
Example
先生 が 教室 に 入る と 、 ざわざわ して い た 生徒 たち が 静か に なった 。
When the teacher entered the classroom, the murmuring students became quiet.
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2 Suru verb
Feeling Uneasy" / "Unsettled
Refers to an unsettling physical sensation of anxiety, unpleasant chills, or a foreboding hunch.
Usage notes & examples
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3 Adverb (fukushi), Suru verb
Rustling
Depicts the continuous, dry sound of leaves, grass, or trees rubbing together in the wind.
Usage notes & examples
available in the
mobile app