章
shō[ɕo̞ː]
The Japanese word for "chapter" is 章 (shō). If unsure, use 章. Wiktionary also lists 章節 (shōsetsu).
Meaning: section in a book (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 章 | shō | [ɕo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 章節 | shōsetsu |
章 is a common and widely accepted term used to refer to a chapter in novels, textbooks and scholarly articles.
Which one should you use?
While 章 refers to a major chapter, 章節 is a more technical term used to refer to sections or subsections within a text.
How do you pronounce it?
shō
Did you know?
- When talking about the 'chapters' of a person's life, Japanese speakers often use the word 節目 (fushime), which literally means a 'knot' in a string or a joint in a bamboo stem.
- In Japanese, the word 章 can also mean a 'badge' or an 'insignia' worn on a uniform. This connection comes from the idea of a distinct, marked section or symbol.
- In the context of manga, while 章 is used for story arcs, individual 'chapters' are more commonly referred to using the word 話.
Examples in context
- 次の章を予習しておきなさい。Study the next chapter.This sentence shows how to use 章 when discussing studying for a future chapter.Tatoeba #150273 by KK_kaku_, translation #264284 by CK
- この問題は第3章で扱います。We will deal with this problem in Chapter Three.This sentence demonstrates how to specify a chapter using the 第…章 construction with 章.Tatoeba #219366 by tommy_san, translation #56683 by shekitten
- 金曜日までに第４章を読んどきなさい。Read the fourth chapter by Friday.This sentence provides an example of reading a specific chapter using 章.Tatoeba #9250553 by small_snow, translation #9250547 by AlanF_US
- この小説は2 つ目 の 章 が一番面白いです。This novel's second chapter is the most interesting.
- 新しい本にはいくつ チャプター があるんですか？How many chapters are there in the new book?
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are studying in a library.
- 陽葵 Himariこの章は少し難しいね。Kono shō wa sukoshi muzukashii ne.This chapter is a little difficult, isn't it?
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。陽葵、一緒に読もうか。Hontō da ne. Himari, issho ni yomō ka.True. Himari, shall we read it together?
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。じゃあ、次の章に進もう。Arigatō. Jā, tsugi no shō ni susumō.Thanks. Well, let's move on to the next chapter.
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね。頑張ろう。Sō da ne. Ganbarō.Right. Let's do our best.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chapter” translations and entries 章, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
