Japanese word

伝記

Pronunciation

Romajidenki

Meaning

  • nounbiography

Example

その本は有名な作家の伝記です。so no hon wa yū mei na sak ka no den ki de su

That book is a biography of a famous writer.

Illustration for 伝記 (biography)

More examples

図書館で、歴史上の人物の伝記を見つけました。to sho kan de reki shi jō no jin butsu no den ki o mi tsu ke ma shi ta

I found a biography of a historical figure at the library.

Core concept

Presents a factual written account of a person's life, including the experiences and achievements that shape it.

Common phrases

  • 伝記を読むden ki o yo mu

    read a biography

  • 伝記を書くden ki o ka ku

    write a biography

  • 伝記を出版するden ki o shup pan su ru

    publish a biography

Similar words

自伝jiden: A written account of a person's life told by that person.
回顧録kaikoroku: A written account of personal memories and experiences, often covering only part of a life.
評伝hyōden: A biography that examines a person's life and work with critical analysis.

Definition in Japanese

ある人物の生い立ちや活動などを事実に基づいて記した書物。a ru jin butsu no o i ta chi ya katsu dō na do o ji jitsu ni moto zu i te shiru shi ta sho motsu

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 伝記 (denki, "biography") combines 伝 (den, "pass down") and 記 (ki, "record"), expressing a record of a person's life passed down in writing.

Usage tips

  • A biography may describe a living person, while an autobiography is written by the person whose life it describes.

Other meanings

  • life storynoun

Related words

  • 伝記的denkitekibiographicalna-adjective

Word lists with this word