銭湯
sentō[sẽ̞nto̞ː]
The English word 'bathhouse' in Japanese is expressed as 銭湯 (sentō) or 浴場 (yokujō).
Meaning: building with baths for communal use (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 銭湯 | sentō | [sẽ̞nto̞ː] (narrow) |
| 浴場 | yokujō | [jo̞kɯ̟ʑo̞ː] (narrow) |
The term refers to a building with baths for communal use.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 銭湯 (sentō) literally means 'money bath', which refers to the fee paid to use the facility.
Which one should you use?
銭湯 (sentō) refers to the traditional communal bathhouses found in neighborhoods, while 浴場 (yokujō) is a more formal or technical term for a bathing facility, often seen on signage or in official contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
sentō
Did you know?
- While 銭湯 are commercial businesses, they are often regulated as public health facilities. In some cities, they were historically used as a way for the government to monitor the health of the citizenry through skin conditions.
- The culture of the 銭湯 is closely linked to 裸の付き合い (hadaka no tsukiai), which means 'naked companionship'. This concept suggests that social barriers and hierarchies disappear when people bathe together without clothes.
- If you visit a traditional 銭湯 (sentō), you might see colorful murals of Mount Fuji painted on the wall behind the baths, a design that became a standard aesthetic for these establishments.
Examples in context
- 私は最近、近くの銭湯に行きました。I recently went to a nearby bathhouse.
- この温泉施設はとてもリラックスできる場所です。This bathhouse is a very relaxing place.
- 銭湯へ行きます。Sentō e ikimasu.I am going to the bathhouse.
- この近くに銭湯はありますか？Kono chikaku ni sentō wa arimasu ka?Is there a bathhouse near here?
- 銭湯のコーヒー牛乳は最高です。Sentō no kōhī gyūnyū wa saikō desu.Coffee milk at the bathhouse is the best.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about their plans for the evening.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、今日は銭湯に行きませんか？Kenta-san, kyō wa sentō ni ikimasen ka?Kenta, do you want to go to the bathhouse today?
- 健太 Kentaいいですね。ぜひ行きましょう。Ii desu ne. Zehi ikimashō.That sounds good. Let's definitely go.
- 結衣 Yuiタオルは持っていますか？Taoru wa motte imasu ka?Do you have a towel?
- 健太 Kentaはい、準備できています。Hai, junbi dekite imasu.Yes, I am ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bathhouse” translations and entries 銭湯, 浴場, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
