エッセイ
essei
The English word "essay" can be translated into Japanese as エッセイ (essei) or 随筆.
Meaning: written composition (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| エッセイ | essei | |
| 随筆 | zuihitsu | [d͡zɨiçi̥t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
In Japanese, several words are used to describe an essay depending on the context and the nature of the writing.
Which one should you use?
エッセイ is a loanword from English and is commonly used in academic or modern contexts. 随筆 is a more traditional, formal term often used to refer to literary essays or classical prose styles. For specifically academic or short argumentative papers written for exams or school assignments, the term 小論文 is used. If you are referring to a longer, more structured and scholarly piece of writing, the formal term 論文 is used.
How do you pronounce it?
essei
Did you know?
- The traditional term 随筆 (zuihitsu) literally translates to 'following the brush', a metaphor for writing that follows the natural flow of one's thoughts.
- The traditional 随筆 style reached a historical peak with 'The Pillow Book' by Sei Shōnagon in the 10th century, making it one of the oldest established literary genres in Japan.
- In Japan, 小論文 are a critical part of university entrance exams. Students are judged not just on their knowledge, but on their ability to structure a logical argument within a strict time limit.
Examples in context
- 彼女はそのエッセイを書き始めた。She set about writing the essay.This sentence shows the use of エッセイ in the context of starting a piece of writing.Tatoeba #237030 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #310559 by sundown
- トムがこのエッセイを書くのを手伝ってくれたんですよ。Tom helped me write this essay.This sentence illustrates the use of エッセイ when describing help received with a writing task.Tatoeba #11588837 by small_snow, translation #4198375 by CK
- こういうエッセイの目的は何ですか。What is the purpose of this sort of essay?This sentence demonstrates how to ask about the purpose of a specific エッセイ.Tatoeba #5824831 by EdwinPujols, translation #5845671 by tutawomen
- 英語のエッセイを書くことになったI have to write an English essay.
- 大学の論文を提出しなければなりませんI have to submit a university essay.
- 日本語の作文を書くI am writing a Japanese essay.
Example conversation
Yui and Daito are talking about their homework.
- 結衣 Yui大翔、エッセイはもう書き終わった？Daito, essei wa mou kakiowatta?Daito, have you finished writing your essay yet?
- 大翔 Hirotoまだだよ。エッセイを書くのは苦手なんだ。Mada dayo. Essei o kaku no wa nigate nanda.Not yet. I'm not very good at writing essays.
- 結衣 Yuiそんなことないよ。面白いエッセイだったよ。Sonna koto nai yo. Omoshiroi essei datta yo.That's not true. It was an interesting essay.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に？ありがとう、結衣。Hontou ni? Arigatou, Yui.Really? Thanks, Yui.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “essay” translations and entries エッセイ, 随筆, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
