アマチュア

Meaning in English

amateur

Illustrated Dictionary

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Dictionary

Word context

What it means

アマチュア means a person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than for pay; a hobbyist or non-professional. In Japanese usage, it covers sports, arts, and other pursuits, usually contrasted with プロ (professional).

Main meanings

amateur, hobbyist: a person who participates for enjoyment rather than salary
non-professional participant in a field, often contrasted with pro
can imply limited formal training or skill in some contexts

How to use it

Contexts: non-professional participants in sports, arts, and hobbies; commonly used in casual conversation and media; often seen in compounds like アマチュア選手 or アマチュア写真家
Register: used in both informal and semi-formal contexts; generally neutral and non-pejorative

Variants and close terms

素人 (shirouto) — amateur, layperson
プロ (puro) — professional (antonym)
アマチュア的 (amachua-teki) — amateurish

Etymology

amateur borrowed into Japanese as アマチュア; the form ultimately derives from Latin amator meaning lover; via Western languages, the term entered Japanese vocabulary to label non-professional participants.

Origin

Origin: Introduced during Japan's modernization in the late 19th to early 20th century via Western sports and arts contexts; used to label non-professional participants and hobbyists.

Word class

Noun (外来語)