How to say "sound" in Japanese

• 音おとJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe general noun for a sound or noise you hear — rain, footsteps, a door closing. When 'sound' means something audible, this is the word you want.
  ここから海うみの音おとが聞きこえる。↗

  We can hear the ocean from here.
• 音おんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The on-reading of the same character; it appears inside compound words rather than standing alone. For 'sound' as an independent noun, the おと reading is the word you want.
• 音ねJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounRead ね, this is the tone, note, or ring of a thing — the ring of a bell, the note of an instrument. Use it for a characteristic sound rather than noise in general.
• 大丈夫だいじょうぶJLPT N5approx.Common
  na-adjectiveNothing to do with audible sound: this covers the adjective 'sound' meaning safe, secure, or problem-free — a sound structure, a sound plan. It also serves to reassure someone that things are fine.
  彼女かのじょは今いまのところ大丈夫だいじょうぶです。↗

  She is all right at the moment.
• 鳴るなるJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb for something producing a sound: a phone or alarm rings, a bell resounds, thunder echoes. Use it when 'sound' is a verb and the thing itself is what rings or resounds.
  電話でんわは繰り返くりかえし鳴なっていた。↗

  The telephone rang repeatedly.

Use 音（おと） for sounds you hear and the verb 「鳴る」 for things that ring; 音（ね） is a thing's characteristic tone, 音（おん） appears in compounds, and 大丈夫 expresses the adjective 'sound', meaning safe.

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

• 音おとsound
• 音おんsound
• 音ねsound
• 大丈夫だいじょうぶsafe
• 鳴るなるto sound
• サウンドsound
• 鳴らすならすto ring
• 音響おんきょうsound
• 健全けんぜんhealthy
• 着実ちゃくじつsteady
• 物音ものおとnoise
• 健やかすこやかvigorous
• 堅実けんじつsteady
• 手堅いてがたいsound
• 鳴りなりringing
• 確実かくじつcertain
• 声しょうvoice
• 語呂ごろsound (of a sentence)
• 吹き鳴らすふきならすto blow (a horn, etc.)
• ゾンデprobe
• たゆまぬsteady
• 打ち鳴らすうちならすto ring (a bell)
• 信頼に足るしんらいにたるauthentic
• 打つうつto strike (noon, etc.)
• 聞こえるきこえるto sound (like)
• 音声おんせいsound (e.g. of a TV)
• 健康けんこうhealthy
• 響きひびきsound (esp. the distinctive sound of an object or activity, e.g. rain, gun, gallop, drum)
• 堅調けんちょうstrong (sales, economy, etc.)
• 確かたしかreliable
• プローブprobe
• 探針たんしんprobe
• 消息子しょうそくしprobe
• 声こえsound
• 色いろtone (of one's voice, etc.)