How to say "click" in Japanese

• カシャリ
  nounAn onomatopoeic word for the sound of a click itself, reproducing the noise rather than naming an action. It suits narrative description of an actual click, not figurative or technical uses.
• パシャ
  adverb (with と)Specifically the click of a camera shutter, heard when a photograph is taken. Use it for that sound in picture-taking contexts, not for clicks in general.
• コトリ
  adverb (with と)A mimetic word for a light tap or a clink, and also for a click; it depicts a small, light sound. Use it when the click is a light one.
• ピンとくる
  expression, kuru verbIt covers the figurative sense of 'click': something comes home to one, rings a bell, or is understood at once. It describes understanding, not a physical sound, and is usually written using kana alone.
  何なんのことをいっているのか私にはピンときた。↗

  The allusion was not lost on me.
• 吸着音きゅうちゃくおん
  nounA technical term from phonetics for a click consonant or suction stop — the click sounds of certain spoken languages. It is not the word for an ordinary clicking noise.

All five are less common choices: for an actual click sound use a mimetic word — 「カシャリ」, 「コトリ」 (a light tap or clink) or 「パシャ」 (a camera shutter); 「ピンとくる」 is the figurative 'it clicked'; 吸着音 is the phonetics term.

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

• カシャリclick
• パシャclick (of a camera shutter)
• ことりwith a (light) tap
• ピンとくるto come (home) to one
• 吸着音きゅうちゃくおんclick consonant
• クリック(mouse) click
• ノックtap
• ジャズるto get along (with someone)