How to Say "Japanese" in Japanese

日本語

nihongo[ɲ̟ihõ̞ŋɡo̞]

The English phrase 'japanese' in Japanese is 日本語 (nihongo). If unsure, use 日本語. Wiktionary also lists ジャパニーズ (Japanīzu).

Meaning: Japanese language (name)

Ways to say it

“japanese” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA	Note
日本語	nihongo	[ɲ̟ihõ̞ŋɡo̞] (narrow) [ɲ̟ip̚põ̞ŋɡo̞] (narrow)
ジャパニーズ	Japanīzu	[d͡ʑa̠pa̠ɲ̟iːzɨ] (narrow)	colloquial

日本語 refers specifically to the Japanese language. If you wish to refer to a Japanese person or someone of Japanese nationality, use 日本人.

Use 日本語 (nihongo) to refer specifically to the language, whereas 日本人 (nihonjin) refers to a Japanese person.

ジャパニーズ (Japanīzu) is a colloquial and informal form that sounds like a loanword from English.

When referring to the Japanese language as a subject in a sentence, it is often followed by the particle は (wa).

nihongo

If you want to express that your skills are still developing, you can say 日本語まだまだ (Nihongo mada mada) to mean 'I am still not good at Japanese.'

The word 日本語 is composed of the words for 'sun' 日, 'origin' 本, and 'language' 語. This makes the name of the language literally mean 'the language of the land of the rising sun'.
When people say 日本語まだまだ to describe their skills, the word まだまだ literally means 'still more'. It is a cultural way of showing modesty by denying one's proficiency even if they are quite fluent.
The character for 'Japan' in 日本語 can be read as both にほん (Nihon) and にっぽん (Nippon). While にほん is more common in daily speech, にっぽん is often used on postage stamps and at sporting events.

日本語を話します。
We speak Japanese.
This sentence is useful for saying that you speak 日本語.
Tatoeba #8555401 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #249142 by CN
日本語、難しいね。
Japanese is hard, isn't it?
This sentence is useful for noting that 日本語 is difficult.
Tatoeba #10127771 by small_snow, translation #10127781 by DJ_Saidez
日本語は話せますか。
Do you speak Japanese?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone can speak 日本語.
Tatoeba #122333 by KK_kaku_, translation #69058 by autuno
Nihonjin desu ka? (にほんじんですか?)
Are you Japanese?
Watashi wa Nihonjin desu. (わたしはにほんじんです。)
I am Japanese.
Watashi wa Nihongo mada mada desu. (わたしはにほんごまだまだです。)
I am still not good at Japanese.
344 more sentences on Tatoeba

Misaki and Kenta are talking about their studies at a cafe.

美咲 Misaki

日本語の勉強はどうですか？
Nihongo no benkyou wa dou desu ka?
How is your Japanese study going?
健太 Kenta

少し大変ですが、楽しいです。
Sukoshi taihen desu ga, tanoshii desu.
It is a bit difficult, but it is fun.
美咲 Misaki

健太さんは日本語が上手ですね。
Kenta-san wa nihongo ga jouzu desu ne.
Kenta, you are good at Japanese.
健太 Kenta

ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.

Sources

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