俳優
haiyū[ha̠ijɯ̟ː]
The English word 'actor' is translated into Japanese as 俳優 (haiyū). Wiktionary also lists 役者 (yakusha) and 演技者 (engisha).
Meaning: dramatic performer (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 俳優 | haiyū | [ha̠ijɯ̟ː] (narrow) | |
| 役者 | yakusha | [ja̠kɯ̟̊ɕa̠] (narrow) | |
| 演技者 | engisha | [ẽ̞ŋʲɡʲiɕa̠] (narrow) [ẽ̞ŋʲɡʲimo̞no̞] (narrow) |
|
| 男優 | dan'yū | [dã̠ɰ̃jɯ̟ː] (narrow) | masculine |
| 女優 | joyū | [d͡ʑo̞jɯ̟ː] (narrow) | feminine |
The terms in this category refer to a dramatic performer.
Which one should you use?
俳優 is the standard modern term for a professional actor and is gender-neutral. In contrast, 男優 is specifically used for a male actor and 女優 is specifically used for a female actor. The term 役者 often carries a nuance of a performer in traditional arts or a person playing a specific role.
How do you pronounce it?
haiyū
Did you know?
- If you call someone an 役者, you might be complimenting their ability to play a role in real life, not just on stage.
- In Japanese, the word for actress 女優 is built from the characters for 'woman' and 'superior/excellent', a structure mirrored in the word for male actor 男優.
- The term 演技 (acting) uses the character 技, which is also found in words meaning 'technique' or 'art's skill'.
Examples in context
- 彼は俳優です。He is an actor.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is an actor using 俳優.Tatoeba #101298 by bunbuku, translation #302398 by CK
- 私の父は俳優でした。My father was an actor.This sentence is useful for describing a past profession using 俳優.Tatoeba #4808855 by Chimera, translation #4822639 by CK
- 好きな俳優っている？Do you have a favorite actor?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a favorite actor using 俳優.Tatoeba #8576354 by small_snow, translation #6049065 by CK
- 彼は優れた役者です。He is an excellent actor.
- 彼女は映画の役者です。She is a movie actor.
- 彼は有名な俳優です。He is a famous actor.
- 俳優になりたいです。I want to become an actor.
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are talking about a movie they just saw.
- 大翔 Hirotoあの俳優の演技は本当にすごいね。Ano haiyū no engi wa hontō ni sugoi ne.That actor's performance is really amazing, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariそうだね。表情がとても豊かだと思う。Sō da ne. Hyōjō ga totemo yutaka da to omou.I agree. I think his facial expressions are very rich.
- 大翔 Hirotoいつか彼のような俳優になりたいよ。Itsuka kare no yō na haiyū ni naritai yo.I want to become an actor like him someday.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔ならきっといい俳優になれるよ。Hiroto nara kitto ii haiyū ni nareru yo.If it's you, Hiroto, I'm sure you can become a great actor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “actor” translations and entries 俳優, 役者, 演技者, 男優, 女優, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
