エービーシー
ēbīshī
The English phrase "abc" is translated into Japanese as エービーシー (ēbīshī).
This noun refers to a primer or a basic introduction used for learning the alphabet.
Meaning: primer for learning the alphabet (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
ēbīshī
Did you know?
- While エービーシー refers to the English alphabet, Japanese learners use the term いろは 'iroha' to describe the basic fundamentals of a subject, derived from an ancient poem that used every character of the phonetic alphabet once.
- In Japanese pop culture, the phrase is sometimes used metaphorically to describe something that is 'extremely simple' or 'child's play'.
- Because Japanese lacks a native 'alphabet' of individual letters like the Latin one, the phrase エービーシー is often a symbol of Western-style modern education.
Examples in context
- これはエービーシーの教材です。Kore wa ēbīshī no kyōzai desu.This is an ABC textbook.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daisho are talking about studying English.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くん、英語は勉強してる？Daisho-kun, eigo wa benkyō shiteru?Daisho, are you studying English?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、今はエービーシーをやってるよ。un, ima wa ēbīshī o yatteru yo.Yeah, I'm doing the ABCs right now.
- 陽葵 Himariすごいね！もう全部覚えた？sugoi ne! mō zenbu oboeta?That's great! Have you memorized them all?
- 大翔 Hirotoまだ半分くらいかな。mada hanbun kurai kana.I think I'm only about halfway.
