Japanese word

俳優

Pronunciation

Romajihaiyū

Meaning

  • nounactor

Example

父は俳優です。chichi wa hai yū de su

My father is an actor.

Illustration for 俳優 (actor)

More examples

彼は将来、俳優になりたいです。kare wa shō rai hai yū ni na ri ta i de su

He wants to become an actor in the future.

Core concept

Describes a person who brings a written or imagined role to life through performance.

Common phrases

  • 俳優になるhai yū ni na ru

    become an actor

  • 人気のある俳優nin ki no a ru hai yū

    popular actor

  • 有名な俳優yū mei na hai yū

    famous actor

Similar words

役者yakusha: A person who performs different roles in stage, screen, or other dramatic productions.
女優joyū: A female performer who brings a role to life in a dramatic production.
男優danyū: A male performer who brings a role to life in a dramatic production.

Definition in Japanese

演劇・映画・テレビなどで、役を演じる人。en geki ei ga te re bi na do de yaku o en ji ru hito

Word origin

俳優 (haiyū) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 俳 (hai, "performer") and 優 (yū, "actor"), both connected with a person who performs roles.

Usage tips

  • English often uses actor as a gender-neutral term, while actress specifically identifies a female performer, so 俳優 (haiyū) can describe people of any gender.

Other meanings

  • actressnoun

Related words

  • 俳優業haiyūgyōacting professionnoun

Word lists with this word