Japanese word

劇

Pronunciation

Romajigeki

Meaning

  • nounplay

Example

来月、新しい劇を見に行きます。rai getsu atara shi i geki o mi ni i ki ma su

I am going to see a new play next month.

Illustration for 劇 (play)

More examples

学校祭で短い劇を発表します。gak kō sai de mijika i geki o hap pyō shi ma su

We will present a short play at the school festival.

Core concept

A story is presented through acting on a stage as a work for an audience.

Common phrases

  • 劇に出演するgeki ni shutsu en su ru

    perform in a play

  • 劇を見るgeki o mi ru

    see a play

  • 劇を上演するgeki o jō en su ru

    put on a play

  • 劇を書くgeki o ka ku

    write a play

  • 劇を演じるgeki o en ji ru

    act in a play

Similar words

演劇engeki: A staged work in which actors present a story to an audience.
芝居shibai: A play or theatrical performance, often in a less formal or more conversational sense.

Definition in Japanese

物語を俳優が演じ、観客に見せる作品。monogatari o hai yū ga en ji kan kyaku ni mi se ru saku hin

Word origin

The word 劇 (geki, "drama; play") consists of one Chinese character used as a Sino-Japanese noun; its Japanese on-yomi is geki, and its core sense is "a staged drama."

Usage tips

  • The compound 劇場版 (gekijōban, "theatrical version") is widely used for films released in cinemas, giving the character a familiar connection with screen entertainment.

Other meanings

  • dramanoun

Related words

Word lists with this word