Word
応募
Meaning in Englishsubscription, application
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
応募 means the act of applying or submitting an entry for a job, program, competition, or admission; it denotes the process of presenting oneself as a candidate for consideration.
Main meanings
- General application or sign-up for a service, program, or event
- Job or program admission entry for consideration
- Contest or prize-entry submission
How to use it
Used in formal and semi-formal contexts to refer to submitting applications to companies, schools, competitions, or agencies; casual use is possible for events or campaigns. It is typically paired with 応募する as the verb form, and common phrases include 締切日までに応募する and 応募フォームに記入する.
Variants and close terms
- 申請 (shinsei) — formal application
- 申し込み (mōshikomi) — general sign-up
- 出願 (shutsugan) — filing an application (patents, scholarships)
Composition
- 応 — to respond, to answer; a receptive element indicating reaction to an invitation
- 募 — to recruit, to solicit; conveys inviting entries or applications
- Combined, 応募 expresses submitting oneself as a candidate in response to a recruitment or selection process
Word class
noun; suru-verb (応募する)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
公募
koubo
public appeal, public contribution
N1
応急
oukyuu
emergency
N1
相応
souou
suitability, fitness
N1
対応
taiou
dealing with
N1
募る
tsunoru
to invite, to solicit help, participation, etc
N1
適応
tekiou
adaptation, accommodation, conformity
N1
募金
bokin
fund-raising, collection of funds
N1
反応
hannou
reaction, response
N2
一応
ichiou
tentatively, for the time being