泣き声

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 泣き声 (なきごえ) is a compound noun for the sound made when a baby or animal cries.
• Basic usage: 赤ん坊の泣き声が聞こえる makes the sound from the next room the perceived subject, while 子猫の泣き声を頼りにする uses a kitten’s cries as a clue for locating it.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Crier and audible sound
  • In 赤ん坊の泣き声 and 子猫の泣き声, the noun before の identifies who made the sound, while the head noun is the cry. The baby or kitten itself is not what was heard.