Japanese word

順番

Pronunciation

Romajijunban

Meaning

  • nounturn

Example

次は私の順番です。tsugi wa watashi no jun ban de su

It is my turn next.

Illustration for 順番 (turn)

More examples

ゲームでは順番を待ちます。gē mu de wa jun ban o ma chi ma su

In games, we wait for our turn.

私たちはゲームの順番をじゃんけんで決めます。watashi ta chi wa gē mu no jun ban o ja n ke n de ki me ma su

We decide the order for the game by playing rock-paper-scissors.

Core concept

Marks the place assigned to a person or thing in an arranged sequence and the time when that place is reached.

Common phrases

  • 順番にjun ban ni

    in turn

  • 順番を待つjun ban o ma tsu

    wait for one's turn

  • 順番が来るjun ban ga ku ru

    one's turn comes

  • 順番を決めるjun ban o ki me ru

    decide the order

Similar words

番ban: A person's place in a sequence for acting or being served.
出番deban: The time when a person or group is scheduled to appear or act.

Definition in Japanese

物事を順に行う際の、次に当たる番。mono goto o jun ni okona u sai no tsugi ni a ta ru ban

Word origin

順番 (junban) combines 順 (jun, "order") and 番 (ban, "watch" or "turn"), expressing an assigned place in a sequence.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 順番 (junban) often identifies who acts next, while English commonly uses "whose turn it is" for the same situation.

Other meanings

  • ordernoun

Related words

  • 順番制junbanseiturn-taking systemnoun

Word lists with this word