ゲームセンター
Gēmusentā
The Japanese word for an arcade is ゲームセンター (Gēmusentā).
In Japanese, ゲームセンター refers to a place where one plays video games.
Meaning: covered passage, usually with shops on both sides (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term ゲームセンター is a loanword from the English phrase 'game center'.
Which one should you use?
While ゲームセンター refers to a video game arcade, the loanword アーケード is used to describe a covered shopping passage or arcade.
How do you pronounce it?
Gēmusentā
Did you know?
- Some ゲームセンター feature 'prize machines' known as クレーンゲーム, which are so popular they often occupy more floor space than actual video games.
- The term ゲームセンター is a classic example of 'Wasei eigo', or Japanese-made English, where English words are combined in a way that sounds natural to Japanese ears but would sound strange to a native English speaker.
- In Japanese, you will often see the abbreviation ゲーセン (Gēsen) used by locals to refer to a video game arcade.
Examples in context
- すみません、ゲームセンターはどこですか？Excuse me, where is the arcade?
- ねえ、ゲーセン行く？Hey, want to go to the arcade?
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to do after school.
- 陽太 Yota今日はゲームセンターに行かない？Kyou wa gēmusentā ni ikanai?Do you want to go to the arcade today?
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ。何して遊ぶ？Ii yo. Nani shite asobu?Sure. What shall we play?
- 陽太 Yota新しい格闘ゲームをやりたい。Atarashii kakutou gēmu o yaritai.I want to play a new fighting game.
- 結衣 Yuiいいかもね。行こう！Ii kamo ne. Ikou!That sounds good. Let's go!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ゲームセンター, CC BY-SA 4.0.
