ギャンブル
gyanburu[ɡʲã̠mbɯ̟ɾɯ̟]
The English verb gamble is translated into Japanese as ギャンブル (gyanburu).
The most common and straightforward way to express the idea of gambling is by using the borrowed word ギャンブル. You can use it to describe the general activity of playing risky games for monetary gain. Specific activities are often described with their own verbs, such as ポーカーをする (to play poker), 競馬をする (to bet on horse racing) or スロットを回す (to spin the slot machine). There is also an informal expression, 一攫千金を狙う, which means to aim for a windfall.
Meaning: to play risky games for monetary gain (verb)
Which one should you use?
Both 賭け and ギャンブル can be used as nouns to describe a risky venture or a risk undertaken with a potential gain.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ギャンブル is a loanword commonly used in casual conversation.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
gyanburu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, horse racing (競馬) is one of the few forms of gambling that is legally operated by the government, making it socially distinct from illegal 'underground' gambling.
- While ギャンブル describes the activity, Japanese people often use the word 勝負 (shoubu), meaning 'victory or defeat', to describe a high-stakes gamble or a decisive moment in a game.
- The phrase 一攫千金 (ikkaku senkin), which means to aim for a fortune, is actually a four-character idiom (yojijukugo) that is often used in much more serious literary or business contexts than the loanword ギャンブル.
Examples in context
- もうギャンブルはしてないよ。I don't gamble anymore.This sentence is useful for expressing that you no longer engage in the activity of ギャンブル.Tatoeba #10648855 by small_snow, translation #2271847 by CK
- ギャンブルは楽しみつつも、適度に行うことが大切ですWhile gambling can be enjoyable, it's important to do it in moderation
- 彼はギャンブルに夢中だ。Kare wa gyanburu ni muchū da.He is obsessed with gambling.
- ギャンブルで大損した。Gyanburu de ōzon shita.I lost a lot of money gambling.
Example conversation
Two siblings are talking in the living room about their brother.
- 陽葵 Himariお兄ちゃん、またギャンブルしてるの？Onii-chan, mata gyanburu shiteru no?Is big brother gambling again?
- 陽太 Yotaそうだよ。最近ずっとやってるみたい。Sō da yo. Saikin zutto yatteru mitai.Yeah. It seems like he's been doing it constantly lately.
- 陽葵 Himari心配だね。Shinpai da ne.That's worrying.
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。Hontō da ne.It really is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ギャンブル, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
