エンターテインメント
entāteinmento[ẽ̞nta̠ːtẽ̞ːmːẽ̞nto̞]
Japanese has several ways to say entertainment, such as エンターテインメント (entāteinmento). Wiktionary also lists 娯楽 (goraku) and エンタメ (entame).
Meaning: activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| エンターテインメント | entāteinmento | [ẽ̞nta̠ːtẽ̞ːmːẽ̞nto̞] (narrow) |
| 娯楽 | goraku | [ɡo̞ɾa̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| エンタメ | entame | [ẽ̞nta̠me̞] (narrow) |
These words describe activities designed to provide pleasure or relaxation.
Which one should you use?
娯楽 is a formal term often used in writing to discuss the concepts of leisure and recreation. エンターテインメント is a standard loanword used to refer to the concept in a broad, sophisticated or international sense. エンタメ is a casual abbreviation used frequently in media, marketing and among younger generations to refer to entertainment content or the entertainment industry.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
娯楽 is a formal way to express the concept of entertainment or recreation. エンターテインメント is a standard, widely used loanword. エンタメ is an informal and trendy abbreviation used in casual conversation and marketing.
How do you pronounce it?
entāteinmento
Did you know?
- While エンターテインメント is a loanword, it was first recorded in Japanese as early as 1924.
- The characters in 娯楽 can be broken down into the idea of 'enjoying' and 'ease'. The second character, 楽, is the same one used in the word for 'music', 音楽, as the concept of music is deeply tied to ease and pleasure.
- When discussing professional entertainers or performers, Japanese speakers often use the term 芸能 (geinō), which combines 'art' and 'talent', rather than using the word for 'entertainment' itself.
Examples in context
- 田舎には娯楽がない。There's no entertainment in the countryside.This sentence illustrates the use of 娯楽 to describe a lack of entertainment in the countryside.Tatoeba #1771684 by Scott, translation #1771686 by Scott
- ここいらの若者には娯楽がない。There's no entertainment for young people around here.This sentence shows how 娯楽 is used to express a lack of entertainment for specific groups like young people.Tatoeba #1771693 by mookeee, translation #1771687 by Scott
- エンターテインメントは、日本でもやっぱり若者に人気がある。Entertainment is still popular with young people in Japan.This sentence demonstrates the use of エンターテインメント when discussing its popularity among the youth in Japan.Tatoeba #6044864 by alvinsbored, translation #10217912 by hanibibiru
- 今日はどんな エンタメ が楽しめるか調べてみよう！Let's find out what kind of entertainment we can enjoy today!
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are discussing what to do during their vacation.
- 結衣 Yui休暇中に何かいいエンターテインメントはあるかな？Kyūka-chū ni nanika ii entāteinmento wa aru kana?I wonder if there is any good entertainment during the vacation?
- 健太 Kenta街で新しいショーがあるみたいだよ。Machi de atarashii shō ga aru mitai da yo.It looks like there is a new show in town.
- 結衣 Yuiそれはいいね！ぜひ見に行こう。Sore wa ii ne! Zehi mi ni ikō.That sounds great! Let's definitely go see it.
- 健太 Kentaよし、チケットを予約しておくよ。Yoshi, chiketto o yoyaku shite oku yo.Alright, I'll book the tickets.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “entertainment” translations and entries エンターテインメント, 娯楽, エンタメ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries エンターテインメント, 娯楽, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
