広告・廣告|こうこくkoukoku[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
広告広告 is the common form; learners should use it for all the meanings “advertisement,” “advertising,” “announcement,” and “notice.”
廣告廣告 is a less common variant using outdated kanji; recognize it if encountered, but use 広告 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbadvertisement; advertising
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbannouncement; notice
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 広告する（こうこくする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 広告します（こうこくします） |
| Negative (nai) | 広告しない（こうこくしない） |
| polite (masen) | 広告しません（こうこくしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 広告せず・広告せぬ（こうこくせず・こうこくせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 広告した（こうこくした） |
| polite (mashita) | 広告しました（こうこくしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 広告しなかった（こうこくしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 広告しませんでした（こうこくしませんでした） |
| Te form | 広告して（こうこくして） |
| Potential | 広告できる（こうこくできる） |
| Passive | 広告される（こうこくされる） |
| Causative | 広告させる（こうこくさせる） |
| Causative passive | 広告させられる（こうこくさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 広告すれば（こうこくすれば） |
| tara | 広告したら（こうこくしたら） |
| Volitional | 広告しよう（こうこくしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 広告しましょう（こうこくしましょう） |
| Imperative | 広告しろ（こうこくしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym宣伝せんでんNeutralSpreading the word about something's merits, sometimes with exaggeration or political overtones (「宣伝活動」); 「広告」 usually means ads placed in media.
- SynonymアドNeutralA loanword abbreviation, mostly seen in compounds like 「アドバルーン」 and rarely alone; in everyday speech people say 「広告」.
- SynonymアドバタイズメントWrittenA loanword rarely used in Japanese, seen occasionally in industry or English-related contexts; for the same meaning people normally say 「広告」.
- SynonymアドバタイジングWrittenA loanword found mainly in industry jargon and company names; in meaning it is basically the same as 「広告」, which is what people say day to day.
- Related告知こくちNeutralNotifying someone or the public of something (「病名の告知」); the emphasis is on informing, while 「広告」 aims at promoting and selling.
- Related社告しゃこくFormalA formal announcement issued in a company's name, e.g. a recall or apology, seen in newspapers and on official sites; unlike 「広告」 it does not sell products.
- Relatedお知らせおしらせNeutralA polite word for a notice or announcement (「お知らせ欄」), also used for news like a new product's release; 「広告」 promotes and is usually paid placement.
- RelatedパブリシティーWrittenA loanword for publicity gained through news coverage and the like, i.e. free rather than paid; an industry-flavored term, while paid placement is 「広告」.
- RelatedＰＲピー・アールNeutralPromoting or touting something, including self-promotion (「自己PR」); broader than 「広告」 and carrying a public-relations flavor.
Use 「広告」 for paid, placed ads, 「宣伝」 for touting merits, and 「PR」 for self-promotion. For plain notices pick 「お知らせ」 or 「告知」, and for official company announcements 「社告」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
