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

Restaurants here are fabulous — Cueva Siete for Mexican cuisine and Mura House for Japanese are two of the most popular. —Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2024

But after a Japanese attack in Beijing in July 1937, prompting the start of the Sino-Japanese War, Bill and his mother fled to the Philippines. —Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 8 June 2024

Less filling, tastes great and a craft beer, Harland’s Japanese Lager is a terrific summer cooler. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2024

In May, Aji Japanese Bistro in El Dorado Hills closed. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 6 June 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