定番
teiban
The Japanese word for the English phrase "classic" (in the sense of exhibiting a timeless quality) is 定番 (teiban).
You may also encounter the word 懐かしい (natsukashii) when discussing classic movies or music, as it expresses a feeling of nostalgia for things from the past.
Meaning: exhibiting timeless quality (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
teiban
Did you know?
- The word 定番 originally referred to the 'fixed boards' or designated spots where specific goods were displayed in traditional Japanese shops.
- Using 定番 to describe a person's behavior might imply they are behaving in a predictable, stereotypical, or 'standard' way.
- Unlike the English word 'classic', which can describe an ancient Greek statue, 定番 is almost never used for ancient history or archaeology.
Examples in context
- 「この曲、ここでもかかってる。耳にするの今日で何回目だろう？」「しょうがないよ。クリスマスの定番ソングだもん」"They're playing this song here too. How many times does that make it today?" "What do you expect? It's a Christmas classic."This example shows how 定番 is used to describe a classic Christmas song.Tatoeba #9534584 by bunbuku, translation #11664535 by pip
- この組み合わせは、まさに定番だね。Kono kumiawase wa, masa ni teiban da ne.This combination is truly a classic.
- 定番のレシピで作ってみました。Teiban no reshipi de tsukutte mimashita.I tried making it using a classic recipe.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a menu at a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himariこのカフェの定番メニューは何かな？Kono kafe no teiban menyū wa nani kana?I wonder what the classic menu item is at this cafe?
- 陽太 Yotaやっぱり、このサンドイッチが定番だよ。Yappari, kono sandoitchi ga teiban da yo.As expected, this sandwich is the classic.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くんの言う通り、美味しそうだね。Yōta-kun no iu tōri, oishisō da ne.Just as you say, Yota, it looks delicious.
- 陽太 Yota絶対に間違いないよ。Zettai ni machigainai yo.You definitely can't go wrong with it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
