Japanese word

体験

Pronunciation

Romajitaiken

Meaning

  • nounexperience

Example

これは楽しい体験です。ko re wa tano shi i tai ken de su

This is a fun experience.

Illustration for 体験 (experience)

More examples

いろいろな体験をすると、考え方が広がります。i ro i ro na tai ken o su ru to kanga e kata ga hiro ga ri ma su

Having a variety of experiences broadens your perspective.

Core concept

Describes knowledge or an impression gained by taking part in something personally.

Common phrases

  • 楽しい体験tano shi i tai ken

    fun experience

  • 体験を通してtai ken o tō shi te

    through experience

Similar words

経験keiken: Knowledge gained through personally taking part in events or activities.

Definition in Japanese

物事に自分で直接関わり、実際に経験すること。また、その経験。mono goto ni ji bun de choku setsu kaka wa ri jis sai ni kei ken su ru ko to ma ta so no kei ken

Word origin

体験 (taiken, "experience") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 体 (tai, "body") and 験 (ken, "test or verification"), suggesting something confirmed through one's own involvement.

Usage tips

  • English experience can mean work history, but 体験 (taiken) commonly points to a particular firsthand event or activity in everyday Japanese.

Other meanings

  • firsthand experiencenoun
  • hands-on experiencenoun

Related words

  • 体験するtaikensuruexperienceverb

Word lists with this word