Japanese word

解読

Pronunciation

Romajikaidoku

Meaning

  • noundeciphering

Example

古い文書の解読を始めます。furu i bun sho no kai doku o haji me ma su

I will start deciphering an old document.

Illustration for 解読 (deciphering)

More examples

暗号の解読には時間がかかります。an gō no kai doku ni wa ji kan ga ka ka ri ma su

Deciphering a code takes time.

Core concept

Describes making hidden or unclear meaning understandable by working through signs, writing, or codes.

Common phrases

  • 暗号の解読an gō no kai doku

    deciphering a code

  • 古文書の解読ko bun sho no kai doku

    deciphering an old document

Similar words

判読handoku: The process of identifying and understanding writing that is difficult to read.
復号fukugō: The process of turning coded information into its original readable form.
読解dokkai: The process of understanding the meaning and structure of written text.

Definition in Japanese

意味の分かりにくい文章や暗号などを読み解いて内容を明らかにすること。i mi no wa ka ri ni ku i bun shō ya an gō na do o yo mi to i te nai yō o aki ra ka ni su ru ko to

Word origin

解読 (kaidoku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 解 (kai, "untie or solve") and 読 (doku, "read"), expressing the act of solving something by reading it.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 解読 (kaidoku) applies both to hard-to-read documents and to codes, so it suggests solving meaning rather than simply reading words.

Other meanings

  • decodingnoun

Related words

  • 解読者kaidokushadecipherernoun
  • 解読力kaidokuryokudeciphering abilitynoun

Word lists with this word