Learn the basic Japanese vocabulary for fine arts
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| 絵 (e) |
| 写真 (shashin) |
| 描く (kaku) |
| What do these words mean? Stick around. |
| In this quick lesson, you’ll learn Japanese vocabulary related to fine arts. |
| Before we start, did you know the world’s very first novel was written in Japan — and by a woman? Do you know the title? |
| Keep watching for the answer at the end. |
| 芸術 (geijutsu) |
| "art" |
| [SLOW] 芸術 (geijutsu) |
| 芸術 (geijutsu) |
| 芸 (gei) means skill or performance. |
| 術 (jutsu) means technique or method. |
| 芸術 literally means “the technique of expression.” |
| You might hear āto (アート) instead of geijutsu (芸術) as well. |
| Susan and Oscar chat about their mutual friend. |
| Susan: 彼女の一番新しい絵、見ましたか。 (Kanojo no ichi-ban atarashii e, mimashita ka.) |
| Oscar: はい、彼女は本当に芸術が得意ですね。 (Hai, kanojo wa hontō ni geijutsu ga tokui desu ne.) |
| 絵 (e) |
| "painting" |
| [SLOW] 絵 (e) |
| 絵 (e) |
| In Japanese, 絵を描く can mean both “draw a picture” and “paint a picture.” |
| The same expression is used whether you draw with a pencil or paint with brushes. |
| Lina admires a painting in an art gallery with Susan. |
| Lina: この絵はとても美しいですね。 (Kono e wa totemo utsukushii desu ne.) |
| Susan: はい、本当に素晴らしいですね。 (Hai, hontō ni subarashii desu ne.) |
| 写真 (shashin) |
| "photography" |
| [SLOW] 写真 (shashin) |
| 写真 (shashin) |
| 写真を撮ってもいいですか。 |
| （May I take a photo?) |
| Oscar tells Tom about a class he's taking. |
| Oscar: 私は写真の授業を受けています。 (Watashi wa shashin no jugyō o ukete imasu.) |
| Tom: いいですね！いつかオスカーさんの写真を見せてください。 (Ii desu ne! Itsuka Osukā-san no shashin o misete kudasai.) |
| 描く (kaku) |
| "draw" |
| [SLOW] 描く (kaku) |
| 描く (kaku) |
| It is often used for artistic or detailed drawings, |
| not just quick sketches. |
| 描く can also mean to describe or imagine something, |
| such as a story, a dream, or the future. |
| In this meaning, it is often read as えがく (egaku). |
| Steve talks to Jack about an art class he's taking. |
| Steve: 私たちの先生は授業で絵を描いてくれます。 (Watashi-tachi no sensei wa jugyō de e o kaite kuremasu.) |
| Jack: 楽しそうな授業ですね。 (Tanoshisō na jugyō desu ne.) |
| 楽器 (gakki) |
| "musical instrument" |
| [SLOW] 楽器 (gakki) |
| 楽器 (gakki) |
| When talking about playing an instrument, you can use ～を演奏する. |
| ピアノを演奏する means “play the piano.” |
| Lina and Susan chat about music. |
| Lina: 音楽が大好きです。ピアノは私のお気に入りの楽器です。 (Ongaku ga daisuki desu. Piano wa watashi no o-kiniiri no gakki desu.) |
| Susan: ピアノの音楽は美しいですよね。 (Piano no ongaku wa utsukushii desu yo ne.) |
| ミュージカル (myūjikaru) |
| "musical" |
| [SLOW] ミュージカル (myūjikaru) |
| ミュージカル (myūjikaru) |
| There is a uniquely Japanese musical theatre company called Takarazuka, in which all the performers are women. |
| Susan surprises Lina with tickets to a musical. |
| Susan: 今夜のミュージカルのチケットを取りました。 (Kon'ya no myūjikaru no chiketto o torimashita.) |
| Lina: ミュージカル、大好きです。楽しみです！ (Myūjikaru, daisuki desu. Tanoshimi desu!) |
| オペラ (opera) |
| "opera" |
| [SLOW] オペラ (opera) |
| オペラ (opera) |
| There is a famous opera set in Japan called Madama Butterfly (蝶々夫人ちょうちょうふじん), by Puccini. |
| Jack and Emily chat about their family. |
| Jack: 祖父母はオペラが好きです。 (Sofubo wa opera ga suki desu.) |
| Emily: オペラは面白いですよね。 (Opera wa omoshiroi desu yo ne.) |
| 文学 (bungaku) |
| "literature" |
| [SLOW] 文学 (bungaku) |
| 文学 (bungaku) |
| 純文学 (jun-bungaku) is a literary genre in Japanese that emphasizes artistic value. |
| It is often written by authors studied in school textbooks, such as Natsume Sōseki and Akutagawa Ryūnosuke. |
| Steve talks to Oscar about his brother. |
| Steve: 兄は大学で文学を勉強しています。 (Ani wa daigaku de bungaku o benkyō shite imasu.) |
| Oscar: 文学は素晴らしい学問ですね。 (Bungaku wa subarashii gakumon desu ne.) |
| 作家 (sakka) |
| "writer" |
| [SLOW] 作家 (sakka) |
| 作家 (sakka) |
| Do you have a favourite Japanese writer, such as Yasunari Kawabata, Natsume Sōseki, or Haruki Murakami? OR 作家 (さっか) usually means writer or author. |
| However, in Japanese, 作家 can also be added to describe other creative people, |
| not only writers. |
| For example: |
| アクセサリー作家 = accessory designer / accessory creator |
| 陶芸作家 = ceramic artist |
| ガラス作家 = glass artist |
| Oscar and Tom chat about a man at the park. |
| Oscar: あのノートを持っている男の人が見えますか。彼は作家だと思います。 (Ano nōto o motte iru otoko no hito ga miemasu ka. Kare wa sakka da to omoimasu.) |
| Tom: 新しい話を書いているのかもしれませんね。 (Atarashii hanashi o kaite iru no kamo shiremasen ne.) |
| 小説 (shōsetsu) |
| "novel" |
| [SLOW] 小説 (shōsetsu) |
| 小説 (shōsetsu) |
| The word 小説 originally meant “a small, fictional story,” |
| but today it refers to novels of all lengths. |
| Lina and Susan chat about their hobbies. |
| Lina: 私は読書が大好きです。サスペンスの小説が好きです。 (Watashi wa dokusho ga daisuki desu. Sasupensu no shōsetsu ga suki desu.) |
| Susan: サスペンスの小説はスリルがありますよね。 (Sasupensu no shōsetsu wa suriru ga arimasu yo ne.) |
| 短編小説 (tanpen shōsetsu) |
| "short story" |
| [SLOW] 短編小説 (tanpen shōsetsu) |
| 短編小説 (tanpen shōsetsu) |
| We call a plot twist 'Donden-gaeshi.' |
| This word comes from Kabuki theater, referring to when the stage background is suddenly flipped over. |
| Steve and Tom chat about their reading preferences at a library. |
| Steve: どんな本を読むのが好きですか。 (Donna hon o yomu no ga suki desu ka.) |
| Tom: 短編小説を読むのが好きです。 (Tanpen shōsetsu o yomu no ga suki desu.) |
| Let's review. |
| You'll see the words in English and your job is to say the words in Japanese. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say "art"? |
| 芸術 (geijutsu) |
| 芸術 (geijutsu) |
| And how to say "painting"? |
| 絵 (e) |
| 絵 (e) |
| How about "photography"? |
| 写真 (shashin) |
| 写真 (shashin) |
| Do you remember how to say "draw"? |
| 描く (kaku) |
| 描く (kaku) |
| And how to say "musical instrument"? |
| 楽器 (gakki) |
| 楽器 (gakki) |
| What about "musical"? |
| ミュージカル (myūjikaru) |
| ミュージカル (myūjikaru) |
| Do you remember how to say "opera"? |
| オペラ (opera) |
| オペラ (opera) |
| And how to say "literature"? |
| 文学 (bungaku) |
| 文学 (bungaku) |
| What about "writer"? |
| 作家 (sakka) |
| 作家 (sakka) |
| Do you remember how to say "novel"? |
| 小説 (shōsetsu) |
| 小説 (shōsetsu) |
| And finally, do you remember how to say "short story"? |
| 短編小説 (tanpen shōsetsu) |
| 短編小説 (tanpen shōsetsu) |
| Did you know the world’s very first novel was written in Japan — and by a woman? Do you know the title? |
| The world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji or 源氏物語, (Genji Monogatari), was written around the year 1000 by Murasaki Shikibu, a noblewoman who served at the Japanese imperial court. |
| Thanks for watching! Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases, and see you next time! |
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