How to say "ahem" in Japanese

• えへん
  interjectionThe classic deliberate throat-clear: a polite 'ahem' to attract attention, preface a remark, or signal mild embarrassment or disapproval. Fits a speaker pointedly clearing their throat before speaking.
  えっへんと大おおいばりでアリスは胸むねを張はった。↗

  "A-hem!" Alice boasted, puffing up with pride.
• おほん
  interjectionCovers the harrumph side of 'ahem': a stiff, self-important throat-clear suggesting dignity, sternness or disapproval, the sort a pompous or haughty speaker makes before holding forth.
• ゲフンゲフン
  interjectionA doubled, onomatopoeic cough-cough used wordlessly in place of a comment: coughing pointedly to hint disagreement, disapproval, or to nudge someone into responding without saying anything outright.
• ゴホン
  interjectionPrimarily the sound of an actual cough; as an 'ahem' it is a heavier, more physical throat-clear, so it is seldom the word you want for the polite little ahem.

For the polite attention-getting throat-clear use 「えへん」; for a pompous harrumph 「おほん」; 「ゲフンゲフン」 for pointed coughing that stands in for a comment; 「ゴホン」 is chiefly an actual cough.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• えへんahem
• おほんahem
• げふんげふんahem
• ごほんcough