Japanese word

代表

Pronunciation

Romajidaihyō

Meaning

  • nounrepresentative

Example

私はクラスの代表です。watashi wa ku ra su no dai hyō de su

I am the class representative.

Illustration for 代表 (representative)

More examples

クラスの代表に選ばれました。ku ra su no dai hyō ni era ba re ma shi ta

I was chosen as the class representative.

クラスで話し合って、代表を一人選びます。ku ra su de hana shi a tte dai hyō o hito ri era bi ma su

We discuss it in class and choose one representative.

Core concept

A representative connects a group with others by standing in its place, whether as a person, a role, or an act of speaking for it.

Common phrases

  • 代表を選ぶdai hyō o era bu

    choose a representative

  • 代表に選ばれるdai hyō ni era ba re ru

    be chosen as a representative

  • クラスの代表ku ra su no dai hyō

    class representative

Similar words

代理人dairinin: A person who performs duties or makes decisions for another person or group.
代弁者daibensha: A person who speaks for another person or group and presents its views.

Definition in Japanese

団体や集団の代わりに外部へ意見を伝えたり行動したりする人、またはその立場や行為。dan tai ya shū dan no ka wa ri ni gai bu e i ken o tsuta e ta ri kō dō shi ta ri su ru hito ma ta wa so no tachi ba ya kō i

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 代表 (daihyō, "representative") combines 代 (dai, "substitute") and 表 (hyō, "express"), describing someone who stands in for a group.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese schools, a 代表 (daihyō) often speaks for a class or group at ceremonies and meetings, making the word common in everyday school life.

Other meanings

  • delegatenoun
  • representationnoun

Related words

  • 代表者daihyōsharepresentativenoun
  • 代表的daihyōtekitypicalna-adjective
  • 代表するdaihyōsururepresentverb

Word lists with this word