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

The head of Japanese Trade Union Confederation — Rengo — said that annual pay increases this year must exceed the 5.1% secured last year because real wages continue to fall, Reuters reported. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2025

Ikebana – Valentine’s Day Japanese Flower Arrangements: Have fun with Ikebana and make a unique Ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement for Valentine’s Day. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2025

The law was last invoked in World War II as the legal authority for interning noncitizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent, according to the Brennan Center. —Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025

Ena Onishi already knew that—Japanese even has a word for when humans go off to the restroom together: tsureshon. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2025

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