Japanese word

漢語

Pronunciation

Romajikango

Meaning

  • nounSino-Japanese word

Example

日本語には漢語が多いです。nihon go ni wa kan go ga ō i de su

Japanese has many Sino-Japanese words.

Illustration for 漢語 (Sino-Japanese word)

More examples

漢語を和語に言い換えると、文章がやわらかく感じられます。kan go o wa go ni i i ka e ru to bun shō ga ya wa ra ka ku kan ji ra re ma su

When Sino-Japanese words are rephrased as native Japanese words, the writing feels softer.

Core concept

Describes a layer of Japanese vocabulary that entered from Chinese or was created with Chinese characters and often conveys formal or abstract meanings.

Common phrases

  • 漢語の読み方kan go no yo mi kata

    the reading of a Sino-Japanese word

  • 漢語を使うkan go o tsuka u

    use Sino-Japanese words

Similar words

字音語jiongo: A word pronounced with a Sino-Japanese reading, generally written in Chinese characters.

Definition in Japanese

中国語から借り入れた語や、漢字の音を組み合わせて日本で作った語。chū goku go ka ra ka ri i re ta go ya kan ji no oto o ku mi a wa se te nihon de tsuku tta go

Word origin

The word 漢語 (kango) consists of 漢 (kan, "China") and 語 (go, "word"), a compound whose parts identify a word associated with Chinese linguistic culture.

Usage tips

  • Japanese often uses 漢語 (kango) in official, academic, and technical contexts, so recognizing this vocabulary layer helps explain the tone of many formal expressions.

Opposites

  • 和語wagonative Japanese wordnoun

Word lists with this word