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

Makoto Makoto is offering a Japanese take on stone crabs this season. —Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

The jury for this category included Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Japanese DD Center director Fujioka Asako, and Korean director Lee Soojung. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2024

The lyrics are also interesting, combining Japanese, English, and Portuguese. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2024

Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish arrive in 2025. —Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 7 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