ゴールデンウィーク
Gōruden Wīku[ɡo̞ːɾɯ̟dẽ̞ɰ̃β̞iːkɯ̟]
The English phrase "golden week" is translated into Japanese as ゴールデンウィーク (Gōruden Wīku). If unsure, use ゴールデンウィーク. Wiktionary also lists 黄金週間 (Ōgon Shūkan).
Meaning: holiday (name)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ゴールデンウィーク | Gōruden Wīku | [ɡo̞ːɾɯ̟dẽ̞ɰ̃β̞iːkɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 黄金週間 | Ōgon Shūkan |
Which one should you use?
The katakana form ゴールデンウィーク is the standard name, while GW serves as a common abbreviation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The katakana term ゴールデンウィーク is used in formal situations. In contrast, the abbreviation GW is commonly used in casual conversation and written text.
How do you pronounce it?
Gōruden Wīku
Did you know?
- Although it sounds like a standard English term, ゴールデンウィーク is actually 'wasei eigo', or Japanese-made English, created specifically for the Japanese market.
- While the phrase sounds celebratory, many Japanese workers experience 'GW fatigue' because the high cost of travel and crowds can make the break more stressful than a normal work week.
- The government occasionally encourages people to shift their ゴールデンウィーク travel dates to 'off-peak' times to avoid the total paralysis of the transport network.
Examples in context
- ついにゴールデンウィークに突入しました！Golden Week is finally here!This sentence is useful for announcing that Golden Week has arrived using ゴールデンウィーク.Tatoeba #10792908 by small_snow, translation #10800041 by end
- ゴールデンウィーク連休中には、多くのボランティアが地震と津波の被害を受けた東北地方へ出向いた。During the Golden Week holidays, many volunteers went to the quake and tsunami-hit areas in Tohoku.This sentence describes volunteers traveling during the Golden Week holidays using ゴールデンウィーク.Tatoeba #1614130 by Meow, translation #1019833 by yurusu
- 「ゴールデンウィークには、多くの人々が観光地を訪れます。」During Golden Week, many people visit tourist spots.
- ゴールデンウィークの予定は決まりましたか？Gōruden Wīku no yotei wa kimarimashita ka?Have you decided on your plans for Golden Week?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are chatting in the office about their upcoming holidays.
- 大翔 Hiroto今年のゴールデンウィークはどこかへ行きますか？Kotoshi no Gōruden Wīku wa dokoka e ikimasu ka?Are you going anywhere this Golden Week?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、家族と北海道へ旅行に行く予定です。Hai, kazoku to Hokkaidō e ryokō ni iku yotei desu.Yes, I am planning to travel to Hokkaido with my family.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれはいいですね！楽しんできてください。Sore wa ii desu ne! Tanoshinde kite kudasai.That sounds nice! Please have a great time.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。大翔さんもゆっくり休んでくださいね。Arigatō gozaimasu. Hiroto-san mo yukkuri yasunde kudasai ne.Thank you. You should also have a relaxing break, Hiroto.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “golden week” translations and entries ゴールデンウィーク, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ゴールデンウィーク, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
