Japanese word

電波

Pronunciation

Romajidenpa

Meaning

  • nounsignal

Example

ここは電波が弱いです。ko ko wa den pa ga yowa i de su

The signal is weak here.

Illustration for 電波 (signal)

More examples

この部屋では電波が入りにくいです。ko no heya de wa den pa ga hai ri ni ku i de su

It is hard to get a signal in this room.

Core concept

It is an invisible electromagnetic wave that carries information through space for wireless communication.

Common phrases

  • 電波が入るden pa ga hai ru

    get reception

  • 電波が弱いden pa ga yowa i

    have a weak signal

  • 電波が悪いden pa ga waru i

    have poor reception

  • 電波が入らないden pa ga hai ra na i

    get no reception

Definition in Japanese

空間を伝わり、情報通信に利用される電磁波。kū kan o tsuta wa ri jō hō tsū shin ni ri yō sa re ru den ji ha

Word origin

The noun 電波 (denpa) combines 電 (den, "electric") and 波 (ha, "wave"); 波 is pronounced pa in this compound.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 電波 (denpa) commonly refers to a phone's wireless reception, not only to radio waves in a science lesson.

Other meanings

  • receptionnoun

Word lists with this word