習慣
shūkan[ɕɨːkã̠ɴ]
The English word "habit" is translated into Japanese as 習慣 (shūkan).
習慣 refers to an action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness. It is typically used for positive or neutral long-term routines, such as a morning routine or a cultural custom.
Meaning: action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 習慣 refers to a routine or a social or personal practice, 癖 refers to an involuntary habit, a quirk or a physical tic. Additionally, 風習 can be used to refer to habitual practices or traditions, such as cultural or societal customs.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the intentional act of making something a habit, you can use the phrase 習慣にする.
How do you pronounce it?
shūkan
Did you know?
- The character 習 in 習慣 originally depicted a young bird flapping its wings repeatedly to learn how to fly.
- To describe a habit that is deeply ingrained and hard to change, Japanese speakers often use the word 染み付く, which means 'to be stained into'.
- In Japanese, the word 癖 can also be used to describe the 'character' or 'grain' of a piece of wood or a lock of hair.
Examples in context
- 習慣化しました。It became a habit.This sentence is useful for showing how to express that something became a habit using 習慣.Tatoeba #10668559 by small_snow, translation #10668556 by DJ_Saidez
- 習慣になりました。It has become habit.Tatoeba #11563298 by small_snow, translation #10666048 by sundown
- 間食はよくない習慣だ。Eating between meals is a bad habit.This sentence is useful for describing a bad habit using 習慣.Tatoeba #183704 by bunbuku, translation #20827 by CK
- 彼は毎日ジョギングする習慣があります。He has a habit of jogging every day.
- 彼、変な癖があるんだよね。He has a weird habit, you know.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about their morning routines.
- 結衣 Yui朝の散歩は良い習慣ですね。Asa no sanpo wa yoi shūkan desu ne.A morning walk is a good habit, isn't it?
- 蓮 Renはい、毎朝続けています。Hai, maiasa tsuzukete imasu.Yes, I keep doing it every morning.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さんは健康に気を使っているんですね。Ren-san wa kenkō ni ki o tsukatte iru n desu ne.You really care about your health, Ren.
- 蓮 Renええ、生活習慣を大切にしています。Ee, seikatsu shūkan o taisetsu ni shite imasu.Yes, I value my daily habits.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 習慣, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
