Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 準備中 | junbichū | [d͡ʑɨ̃mbʲit͡ɕɨː] (narrow) |
| 閉められた | shimerareta |
The phrase 準備中 is the standard way to indicate that a shop or restaurant is currently closed or not yet open for business. Other terms exist for specific situations: 閉店 is a common and straightforward way to express that a business is closed for the day or permanently closed, while 休業 specifically refers to when a business is temporarily closed, such as for holidays or renovations. You may also see お休み, which primarily means 'rest' or 'holiday' but can be used as a formal way to convey that a business is closed.
What does it mean word for word?
準備中 literally means 'in the middle of preparation'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 準備中, the suffix 中 is attached to a noun to indicate that an action or state is currently in progress.
How do you pronounce it?
junbichū
Did you know?
- The word 準備中 is often used on signs even when the staff is actually taking a lunch break. Instead of saying 'we are eating', they use the more professional 'in preparation' to maintain a polite business image.
- In some Japanese contexts, using 準備中 is considered more polite than saying a shop is 'closed' because it suggests the staff is working hard to be ready for you, rather than simply being unavailable.
- The suffix 中 in 準備中 is a cognate of the word for 'center' or 'middle', conceptually placing the business in the 'middle' of an action.
Examples in context
- 本日は閉店いたしました。We are closed for today.
- お休みをいただいております。We are currently closed for business.
- その店はもう閉まっているよ。That shop is already closed.
- あのカフェ、今閉店してるんだよ。That café is closed at the moment.
- このお店は今、準備中です。Kono omise wa ima, junbi-chū desu.This shop is currently closed for preparation.
- あのレストランは準備中です。Ano resutoran wa junbi-chū desu.That restaurant is closed for preparation.
- 準備中の看板が出ています。Junbi-chū no kanban ga dete imasu.A 'closed for preparation' sign is out.
Example conversation
Two people are standing in front of a cafe that is not yet open.
- 大翔 Hirotoあのお店、準備中みたいだよ。Ano omise, junbi-chū mitai da yo.That shop looks like it is closed for preparation.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ、準備中ですね。Hontō da, junbi-chū desu ne.You're right, it is closed for preparation.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲、他のお店を探そう。Misaki, hoka no omise o sagasō.Misaki, let's look for another shop.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、そうしよう！Hiroto-kun, sō shiyō!Hiroto, let's do that!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “closed” translations and entries 準備中, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
