Japanese word

暗算

Pronunciation

Romajianzan

Meaning

  • nounmental arithmetic

Example

暗算が得意です。an zan ga toku i de su

I am good at mental arithmetic.

Illustration for 暗算 (mental arithmetic)

More examples

買い物の合計は暗算で確かめました。ka i mono no gō kei wa an zan de tashi ka me ma shi ta

I checked the total by mental arithmetic.

Core concept

It involves processing numbers mentally so that a calculation is completed without visible written steps.

Common phrases

  • 暗算が得意an zan ga toku i

    be good at mental arithmetic

  • 暗算をするan zan o su ru

    do mental arithmetic

  • 暗算の練習an zan no ren shū

    mental arithmetic practice

Similar words

計算keisan: The act of working out a result from numbers or other quantities.
筆算hissan: A calculation carried out by writing numbers and operation steps on paper.

Definition in Japanese

数字を紙に書いたり道具を使ったりせず、頭の中で答えを求める計算。sū ji o kami ni ka i ta ri dō gu o tsuka tta ri se zu atama no naka de kota e o moto me ru kei san

Word origin

The Japanese compound 暗算 (anzan) contains 暗 (an, "hidden") and 算 (san, "calculation"), referring to calculation performed in the head.

Usage tips

  • The term mental arithmetic can describe both a practiced skill and a single calculation made in the mind.

Opposites

  • 筆算hissanwritten arithmeticnoun

Related words

  • 暗算力anzanryokumental arithmetic abilitynoun

Word lists with this word