How to Say "Culture" in Japanese

文化

bunka[bɯ̟̃ŋka̠]

The English word "culture" is translated into Japanese as 文化 (bunka).

文化 refers to the beliefs, values, behavior and material objects that constitute a people's way of life.

Meaning: the beliefs, values, behavior and material objects that constitute a people's way of life (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

bunka

During the Meiji period, Japanese scholars specifically chose 文化 to translate the German word 'Kultur'.
Japanese possesses a specific term, 高文脈文化 or 'high-context culture', to describe how much of their communication relies on implicit understanding rather than spoken words.
Japanese uses different terms for 'culture' depending on whether one is discussing 'civilization' (bunmei) or 'customs' (shukan).

彼は日本の文化に詳しい。
He is familiar with Japanese culture.
This sentence shows how to express being familiar with the Japanese form of 文化.
Tatoeba #101465 by KK_kaku_, translation #302230 by CK
彼はいわゆる文化人である。
He is what we call a man of culture.
This sentence demonstrates the use of the term 文化人 to describe a person of culture.
Tatoeba #114362 by small_snow, translation #289310 by CM
彼らは独自の文化を持っていた。
They had a culture of their own.
This sentence illustrates how to state that a group possessed their own 文化.
Tatoeba #96448 by small_snow, translation #307257 by sundown
23 more sentences on Tatoeba

Ren and Himari are talking about traveling abroad.

蓮 Ren

違う文化に触れるのは楽しいよね。
Chigau bunka ni fureru no wa tanoshii yo ne.
It's fun to experience a different culture, isn't it?
陽葵 Himari

本当に。だから海外旅行に行きたいんだ。
Hontou ni. Dakara kaigai ryokou ni ikitai nda.
Truly. That's why I want to travel abroad.
蓮 Ren

陽葵はどの国の文化に興味があるの？
Himari wa dono kuni no bunka ni kyoumi ga aru no?
Which country's culture are you interested in, Himari?
陽葵 Himari

今はフランスの文化を勉強しているよ。
Ima wa Furansu no bunka o benkyou shite iru yo.
I'm studying French culture right now.

Sources

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