宣伝|せんでんsenden[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbpublicity; advertisement; advertising; propaganda
    その商品しょうひんはテレビで宣伝せんでんされている。↗
    The goods are advertised on TV.
Conjugation
Dictionary form宣伝する(せんでんする)
Polite (masu)宣伝します(せんでんします)
Negative (nai)宣伝しない(せんでんしない)
polite (masen)宣伝しません(せんでんしません)
classical zu / nu宣伝せず・宣伝せぬ(せんでんせず・せんでんせぬ)
Past (ta)宣伝した(せんでんした)
polite (mashita)宣伝しました(せんでんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)宣伝しなかった(せんでんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)宣伝しませんでした(せんでんしませんでした)
Te form宣伝して(せんでんして)
Potential宣伝できる(せんでんできる)
Passive宣伝される(せんでんされる)
Causative宣伝させる(せんでんさせる)
Causative passive宣伝させられる(せんでんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)宣伝すれば(せんでんすれば)
tara宣伝したら(せんでんしたら)
Volitional宣伝しよう(せんでんしよう)
polite (mashou)宣伝しましょう(せんでんしましょう)
Imperative宣伝しろ(せんでんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym広告こうこくNeutralRefers to advertisements or advertising activities, e.g. in newspapers or on TV, and also to public notices; 「宣伝」 covers promotion of all kinds more broadly.
  • SynonymアドNeutralLoanword short for 「広告」, mostly seen in compounds such as 「アドネットワーク」.
  • SynonymパブリシティーNeutralLoanword for free publicity gained through media coverage, as opposed to paid advertising.
  • SynonymプロパガンダNeutralLoanword for organized campaigns to steer public opinion, often political, with a manipulative, negative feel; 「宣伝」 is more neutral.
  • SynonymプロモートNeutralLoanword for promoting or marketing a product or event; 「宣伝」 is broader in scope.
  • SynonymアドバタイズメントNeutralLoanword for advertisement; the formal, full form, rarely used — say 「広告」 instead.
  • SynonymアドバタイジングNeutralLoanword for the advertising business or activities; mostly used in professional contexts.
  • Synonym喧伝けんでんWrittenWritten language for loudly trumpeting something far and wide, stressing the buzz it creates; 「宣伝」 stresses promotion.
  • SynonymPRピー・アールNeutralCovers PR and promotion, also self-presentation as in 「自己PR」; sounds trendier than 「宣伝」.
  • Related流布るふWrittenWritten language for circulating or disseminating through society, as in 「デマを流布する」 or 「流布本」.
  • Related公告こうこくWrittenOfficial, formal public announcements such as legal notices; 「宣伝」 is promotional activity.
  • Related広めるひろめるNeutralVerb for spreading or popularizing something, as in 「知識を広める」; 「宣伝」 stresses deliberate publicity.
  • Related言いふらすいいふらすNeutralVerb for spreading rumors or gossip around, with a negative nuance; 「宣伝」 usually means deliberate promotion.
  • Related言い散らすいいちらすNeutralVerb for going about spreading talk or rumors; carries a somewhat negative nuance.
  • Related触れ回るふれまわるNeutralVerb for going around trumpeting something to everyone, with an exaggerated or big-mouthed feel.
  • Related言い広めるいいひろめるNeutralVerb for spreading word of something, stressing how far it travels; 「宣伝」 stresses the aim of promoting.
  • Related宣布せんぷWrittenWritten language for proclaiming or announcing something widely; leans formal.
  • Antonym秘匿ひとくWrittenWritten word for hiding or keeping something secret — the opposite of publicly promoting things with 「宣伝」.

Use 「宣伝」 for promoting products or publicizing ideas, in business or politics alike. For ads themselves or advertising activities say 「広告」; for PR and self-presentation say 「PR」; for manipulative, often political campaigns say 「プロパガンダ」; for spreading rumors say 「言いふらす」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. ある物ものの良よさ等とうを大衆たいしゅうに説明せつめいし、広ひろめること。
  2. 誇張こちょうして、事実じじつ以上いじょうの事柄ことがらを故意こいに広ひろめること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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