Japanese

noun

Jap·​a·​nese ˌja-pə-ˈnēz 

-ˈnēs

plural Japanese

1

a

: a native or inhabitant of Japan

b

: a person of Japanese descent

2

: the language of the Japanese

Japanese adjective

Examples of Japanese in a Sentence

the customs of the Japanese

He is learning to speak Japanese.

Recent Examples on the Web

But there’s also a huge selection of Japanese Wagyu, an excellent sushi menu, and several tantalizing flavors of Nick & Sam’s famous seven-layer cake. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024

Komodo’s signature menu will be available, including Peking Duck; American and Japanese Wagyu; Sushi and Nigiri; and shareable bites like the Money Bag Dumplings and David Grutman’s Grutman Pastrami Eggrolls. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Dec. 2024

To combine the best qualities of a high-end cocktail lounge with an old-school Japanese izakaya. —Katie Chang, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

In the sketch, Ricky Gervais — who starred in the original BBC The Office, which aired from 2001 to 2003 — claims that the British Office actually copied from the (fake) Japanese Office, which is now being seen for the first time. —Victoria Edel, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing Japanese

• anti-Japanese
• Japanese andromeda
• Japanese beetle
• Japanese cedar
• Japanese eggplant
• Japanese giant hornet
• Japanese iris
• Japanese lacquer
• Japanese maple
• Japanese millet
• Japanese plum
• Japanese pumpkin
• Japanese quail
• Japanese quince
• Japanese spurge
• non-Japanese
• the Japanese

Kids Definition

Japanese

noun

Jap·​a·​nese ˌjap-ə-ˈnēz 

-ˈnēs

plural Japanese

1

a

: a person born or living in Japan

b

: a person of Japanese ancestry

2

: the language of the Japanese

Japanese adjective