美容院
biyouin
The Japanese phrase for hair salon is 美容院 (biyouin).
美容院 refers to a hair salon, which is the workplace of a beautician or barber. It is typically used for salons that focus on beauty and styling, often catering to women or general hair care.
Meaning: workplace of a beautician or barber (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 美容 (beauty) and 院 (institution/establishment).
Which one should you use?
While 美容院 refers to a hair salon, 理髪店 specifically refers to a traditional barbershop.
How do you pronounce it?
biyouin
Did you know?
- The character 院 in 美容院 is also used for the '院' in 大学院 (graduate school) and 病院 (hospital), indicating a formal or professional institution.
- In Japan, it is common for a stylist at a 美容院 to spend significant time consulting with the client before any cutting begins, a process that is much more formal than in many English-speaking countries.
- While 美容院 is the formal term, many modern salons use the English word 'salon' written in katakana as サロン. This often implies a more high-end or trendy atmosphere.
Examples in context
- 美容院を探しています。どこかご存知ですか？I need to find a hair salon. Do you know where I can go?
- 土曜日に一緒に美容院に行きましょう！Let's go to the hair salon together on Saturday!
- 東京で素敵な美容院を見つけました。I found a great hair salon in Tokyo.
- 新しい美容院を探しています。Atarashii biyōin o sagashite imasu.I am looking for a new hair salon.
- 近くにいい美容院はありますか？Chikaku ni ii biyōin wa arimasu ka?Is there a good hair salon nearby?
- 美容院の予約をしました。Biyōin no yoyaku o shimashita.I made an appointment at the hair salon.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daito are talking about their weekend plans.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔さんは週末、何をしますか？Daitō-san wa shūmatsu, nani o shimasu ka?What are you doing this weekend, Daito?
- 大翔 Hiroto美容院で髪を切るつもりです。Biyōin de kami o kiru tsumori desu.I plan to get my hair cut at a hair salon.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。どこの美容院に行きますか？Ii desu ne. Doko no biyōin ni ikimasu ka?That's nice. Which hair salon are you going to?
- 大翔 Hiroto駅の近くにある美容院に行きます。Eki no chikaku ni aru biyōin ni ikimasu.I'm going to a hair salon near the station.
