How to say "meaning" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 意味いみnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe default word for 'meaning' — what a word, sentence, or sign means. If you are unsure which word to use for 'meaning', this is almost always the safe choice.
- 意義いぎnounCovers 'meaning' in the sense of significance or value — why something matters rather than what it literally says. Typical in discussions of the purpose or worth of an event, rule, or activity.
- 趣旨しゅしnounThe 'meaning' of a statement, speech, or document understood as its point or gist — what the speaker or writer is getting at, rather than the sense of individual words.
- 趣おもむきnounThe tenor or general gist of what is expressed, with a nuance of overall flavor or atmosphere. A literary word; for everyday 'meaning' it is seldom what you want.
- 訳わけnounMeans 'meaning' or 'sense' chiefly in contexts of understanding or explaining — how something comes to mean what it does, or the reason behind it, rather than 'meaning' as a neutral synonym for 意味.
Use 意味 for 'meaning' in general, 意義 for significance or worth, 趣旨 for the point or gist of a statement, 趣 for tenor or overall flavor, and 訳 mainly for the sense or reason behind something.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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