japanese

IPA/ˌdʒæp.ənˈiːz/

KK[dʒˌæpənˈiz]IPA/ˌdʒæp.ənˈiːz/

japanesepositive
more japanesecomparative
most japanesesuperlative

1.adjectiveA1

Definition

describes something that comes from Japan or is connected with the country, its culture, its main language, or the people who live there.

Example

Naoko's grandmother still prepares traditional Japanese dishes for family celebrations.

collocation: Japanese dishes / Japanese cuisine

The Japanese garden behind the museum has a peaceful pond with colourful carp.

collocation: Japanese garden

Common collocations

Japanese culture
Japanese cuisine
Japanese language
Japanese economy
Japanese government
Japanese tradition

Synonyms

Japan-based
more specific — describes something physically located in Japan rather than culturally connected

Usage Note

This sense covers anything relating to Japan — the country, its culture, its language, and its people. When referring to a single person, Japanese functions as both an adjective (a Japanese artist) and a noun (a Japanese from Kyoto).

Common Mistakes

I am a Japan.

I am Japanese.

Japan is the name of the country; Japanese is the adjective or noun for a person.

She speaks Japan.

She speaks Japanese.

The language name is Japanese, not Japan.

japanesesingular
japanesesplural

1.nounA2

Definition

the main language of Japan, which uses a writing system that combines Chinese characters with two native syllabic scripts called hiragana and katakana.

Example

Rachel can read Japanese quite well but still finds writing the characters very hard.

collocation: read Japanese / write Japanese

Aarav has studied Japanese for three years and can now hold basic conversations.

Common collocations

speak Japanese
learn Japanese
in Japanese
written Japanese
spoken Japanese
fluent Japanese

Synonyms

Nihongo
borrowing from the Japanese name for the language; sometimes used in language-learning contexts

Grammar Patterns

Japanese (uncountable noun)

Usage Note

Japanese as a language is uncountable — you cannot say 'a Japanese' to mean a language variety. To refer to a specific variety, use phrases such as 'spoken Japanese' or 'written Japanese'.

Common Mistakes

I study a Japanese.

I study Japanese.

The language name does not take an article.

She has a good Japanese.

Her Japanese is good.' or 'She has good Japanese.

Use possessive or the 'have good [language]' pattern.

2.nounA1

Definition

a person who comes from Japan, has Japanese nationality, or identifies with Japanese culture and heritage.

Example

Indra met a Japanese who had just moved to Vancouver for a new job.

a Japanese (countable singular)

A Japanese woman at the hotel front desk helped Yasmin find the conference room.

Japanese woman (adjective + noun)

Common collocations

a Japanese
Japanese citizens
Japanese nationals
Japanese residents

Synonyms

Japanese person
more commonly used in everyday speech than the bare noun 'a Japanese'
Japanese national
formal or legal context — refers specifically to citizenship
native of Japan
slightly formal; emphasises place of origin

Grammar Patterns

a Japanese (countable singular)

three Japanese (countable plural)

Usage Note

As a singular countable noun, 'a Japanese' is grammatically correct but may sound slightly formal in everyday speech. 'A Japanese person' or specifying the role ('a Japanese designer') often sounds more natural in casual conversation. The plural form is the same as the singular: 'two Japanese'.

Common Mistakes

He is a Japan.

He is Japanese.' or 'He is a Japanese person.

Japan is a country name, not a nationality adjective or noun.

There are two Japanesees in the room.

There are two Japanese in the room.

The word does not add -es for the plural.

3.nounA1

Definition

the people who live in Japan or who consider Japan their home, thought of as a single group or community.

Example

The Japanese have a strong tradition of valuing group harmony over individual needs.

the Japanese (collective plural)

After the earthquake, the Japanese came together to help rebuild their communities.

Common collocations

the Japanese
Japanese society
Japanese population
young Japanese
modern Japanese

Synonyms

Japanese people
interchangeable with 'the Japanese'; slightly more explicit
the Japanese population
more formal; emphasises demographic statistics rather than cultural identity
the people of Japan
more formal and descriptive

Grammar Patterns

the Japanese (plural collective)

many Japanese (plural)

Usage Note

When 'the Japanese' is used as a collective noun, it always takes a plural verb: 'the Japanese are…', not 'the Japanese is…'. To refer to a smaller group within Japan's population, specify further: 'young Japanese', 'urban Japanese'.

Common Mistakes

The Japanese is very hard-working.

The Japanese are very hard-working.

Collective 'the Japanese' always takes a plural verb.

Japanese are polite.

The Japanese are polite.' or 'Japanese people are polite.

When referring to the nation as a whole, use 'the Japanese'.

Word family

Japan
proper nounA1
Japaneseness
nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Japanese, as a countable noun for an individual ('a Japanese'), is grammatically correct but can sound somewhat formal or dated in everyday conversation. Japanese person is the more neutral, natural choice in casual speech — compare 'I met a Japanese' (stilted) with 'I met a Japanese person' (natural). Japanese national is used in legal, bureaucratic, or passport contexts and emphasises citizenship rather than cultural identity. Native of Japan shifts focus to place of birth or origin and tends to appear in formal or historical writing. In practice, English speakers most often use Japanese as an adjective ('my Japanese colleague') and reserve the noun form for the plural collective ('the Japanese'). When referring to a single individual, 'a Japanese person' or specifying their role ('a Japanese designer') avoids any ambiguity about the noun's formality level.

Japanese ↗Japanese personJapanese nationalnative of Japan

Etymology

ChineseMalayPortugueseEnglish

The word Japanese comes from the name Japan, which entered European languages through Portuguese and Dutch traders in the 16th century. The name Japan itself traces back through Malay (Jepang) and a southern Chinese dialect to the Mandarin name Rìběn (日本), meaning 'sun origin' — the source of the poetic description 'Land of the Rising Sun'. The suffix -ese was added on the model of other nationality words like Chinese and Portuguese, and is ultimately borrowed from the Latin suffix -ēnsis, meaning 'belonging to' or 'originating from'.

First known use

1613

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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japanese

japanese — adjective

1. describes something that comes from Japan or is connected with the country, its

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

japanese — noun

1. the main language of Japan, which uses a writing system that combines Chinese ch

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a person who comes from Japan, has Japanese nationality, or identifies with Japa

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. the people who live in Japan or who consider Japan their home, thought of as a s

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Etymology

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