Wiktionary

Japanese

English

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Wiktionary
Japanese edition of Wiktionary

Etymology

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From Japan +‎ -ese after the model of earlier Portuguese japonês, New Latin japonensis, French japonais, etc.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˌd͡ʒæpəˈniːz/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːz

Adjective

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Japanese (not comparable)

  1. Of, relating to, or derived from Japan, its people, language, or culture.
    A Japanese saw is one that cuts on the pull stroke rather than on the push stroke.
    In the United States, Japanese animation has had a tremendous surge in popularity over the last few years.
    • 2013 February 6, Hideo Otake, “Revising the Interpretation of the Japanese Economy”, in Michio Muramatsu, Frieder Naschold, editors, State and Administration in Japan and Germany: A Comparative Perspective on Continuity and Change‎[1], page 319:
      Japanese retail stores have strove to, and have succeeded in, fulfilling these severe demands, and in doing so, have constantly had to innovate both technologically and institutionally in order to keep up with the competition.

Synonyms

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Translations

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Noun

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Japanese (countable and uncountable, plural Japanese or Japaneses)

  1. (countable, chiefly in the plural) A person/people living in or coming from Japan, or of Japanese ancestry.
    A Japanese will typically have black hair, brown eyes, and pale skin.
    • 2007 October 16, Madeleine Brand, “Japan Struggles to Meet Its CO2 Emissions Limits”, Day to Day, National Public Radio,
      Motoyuki Shibata isn’t a typical Japanese.
    • 1938, Ogden Nash, The Japanese:
      How courteous is the Japanese;
      He always says, "Excuse it, please."
  2. (uncountable) Japanese food.
    Let’s go out to eat. I’m in the mood for Japanese.

Usage notes

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As with other terms for people formed with -ese, the countable singular noun in reference to a person (as in "I am a Japanese", "writing about Japanese cuisine as a Japanese") is uncommon and often taken as incorrect. In its place, the adjective is used, by itself (as in "I am Japanese") or with a word like person, man, or woman ("writing about Japanese cuisine as a Japanese person"). However it is rather frequent in East Asia as a translation for the demonym written 日本人 (rìběnrén) in Chinese or 日本人 (Nihonjin) in Japanese.

Synonyms

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Translations

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Proper noun

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Japanese

  2. A language that is primarily spoken in East Asia and is the official language of Japan.
    I’ve been studying Japanese for three years, and I still can’t order pizza in Tokyo!

Synonyms

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Translations

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Derived terms

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See also

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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Afrikaans

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Adjective

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Japanese

  1. attributive form of Japanees

Noun

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Japanese

  1. plural of Japanees

German

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Etymology

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From Japan +‎ -ese, after the model of earlier Portuguese japonês, New Latin japonensis, etc.

Noun

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Japanese m (weak, genitive Japanesen, plural Japanesen)

  1. (obsolete) Synonym of Japaner, a Japanese person.

Declension

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Declension of Japanese [masculine, weak]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Japanese die Japanesen
genitive eines des Japanesen der Japanesen
dative einem dem Japanesen den Japanesen
accusative einen den Japanesen die Japanesen
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