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

Trump Declines to Rule Out Reviving Family Separations During CNN Town Hall At the same time, the state had long been a destination for immigrants of color—Mexican, Filipino, and Japanese, among others—all vital to the agricultural industry that has always drawn foreign workers. —Eladio B. Bobadilla / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024

The seven missiles, detected by Japan and South Korea, flew as far as 400 kilometers (248 miles) according to Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Television cameras for Japanese broadcaster NHK even caught Ohtani saying in Japanese that his shoulder had popped out. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Burton devoured everything from horror films to Ray Harryhausen animations, science fiction B movies and Japanese Kaiju monster films. —Tacita Quinn, CNN, 31 Oct. 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