日本語
Meaning in EnglishJapanese
Animated kanji stroke order
Related sentences
Word context
What it means
日本語 (nihongo) means the Japanese language; it refers to the system of spoken and written communication used primarily in Japan, encompassing vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, writing systems, and a range of regional dialects and registers used by native speakers and learners worldwide.
Main meanings
- 1. The language as a communication system distinct from others, including spoken, written, and signed varieties used by Japanese communities.
- 2. A subject or course of study (when referred to in educational contexts focusing on grammar, literature, and language skills).
- 3. A label for linguistic competence or ability, used to describe someone's skill level in Japanese as a language.
How to use it
Used as the neutral noun naming the language in everyday, academic, educational, and official contexts; appears in course titles, language tests, signage, documentation, and sociolinguistic discussion, and is appropriate in both formal and informal registers when referring to the language itself or to someone's ability in it.
Variants and close terms
- 国語 (kokugo) — national language, often used in school contexts to mean Japanese as taught domestically.
- 和語 (wago) — native Japanese vocabulary (contrast with loanwords).
- 外国語 (gaikokugo) — foreign language, used as the opposite concept.
- にっぽんご (nippon-go) — alternate pronunciation sometimes used for emphasis or stylistic effect.
Composition
- 日 (ni/nichi) — sun, day; used as short form for 'Japan' in compounds.
- 本 (hon) — origin, root; combined with 日 yields the proper name for Japan.
- 語 (go) — language, word, speech; marks the lexical category 'language' when attached to country names.
Origin
The idea of a distinct 'Japanese language' was articulated as a categorical term in historical records and linguistic study over centuries, becoming more formally defined during the early modern and Meiji periods as Japan standardized orthography, education, and national identity; the modern concept consolidates older spoken traditions and classical written forms into a single named language.
Word class
noun (common noun, 名詞)