城
shiro[ɕiɾo̞]
The Japanese word for castle is 城 (shiro). If unsure, use 城. Wiktionary also lists 城郭 (jōkaku).
Meaning: fortified building (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 城 | shiro | [ɕiɾo̞] (narrow) [ɡɯ̟sɨkɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 城郭 | jōkaku |
The term is used to describe a fortified building.
Which one should you use?
While 城 (shiro) refers to the castle itself, 城郭 (jōkaku) is a more technical or formal term referring to the entire fortified complex or the castle's fortifications.
How do you pronounce it?
shiro
Did you know?
- In Okinawa, the word for castle, gushiku, may have originally meant a 'holy place' rather than a military fortification.
- Some historical Japanese castles were designed as 'mountain castles' yamajiro, which focused on steep terrain rather than massive walls.
- Many Japanese castles are now called shiro-ato, meaning 'castle ruins', because very few original wooden structures survived centuries of war and fire.
Examples in context
- お城は木造です。The castle is wooden.This sentence is useful for describing the material a 城 is made of.Tatoeba #11870720 by small_snow, translation #10029333 by ddnktr
- 遠方に城が見えた。We saw a castle in the distance.This sentence is useful for describing seeing a 城 from a distance.Tatoeba #188650 by bunbuku, translation #25796 by CK
- ここは城の跡です。These are the ruins of a castle.This sentence is useful for identifying the site of a 城's ruins.Tatoeba #224298 by KK_kaku_, translation #10515758 by AlanF_US
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are visiting a historical site in Japan.
- 美咲 Misakiこの城はとても大きいです。Kono shiro wa totemo ookii desu.This castle is very large.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当ですね。歴史を感じます。Hontou desu ne. Rekishi o kanjimasu.It really is. I can feel the history.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんは、この城を歩いたことがありますか？Hiroto-san wa, kono shiro o aruita koto ga arimasu ka?Hiroto, have you ever walked around this castle?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、初めて来ました。Iie, hajimete kimashita.No, it is my first time here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “castle” translations and entries 城, 城郭, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 城, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
