モバイル
mobairu
The Japanese word for mobile, pertaining to or by agency of mobile phones, is モバイル (mobairu).
モバイル is typically used as a prefix for technical services or technologies, such as mobile data or mobile payments.
Meaning: pertaining to or by agency of mobile phones (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
mobairu
Did you know?
- Unlike in English, where 'mobile' can describe a phone or a hanging piece of art, the artistic 'mobile' is written in Japanese as モビール (mobīru).
- In Japanese culture, there is a specific etiquette called マナーモード (manā mōdo), or 'manner mode', which refers to setting a mobile phone to silent.
- Japan developed a unique 'mobile web' called i-mode in 1999, long before the modern smartphone era, which influenced how モバイル services were categorized.
Examples in context
- モバイルデータ通信Mobile data usageThis sentence is useful for seeing how to use モバイル in the context of mobile data usage.
- このスマホ、最新機種だよね？This smartphone is the latest model, right?
- モバイル決済を利用します。mobairu kessai o riyou shimasu.I will use mobile payment.
- モバイルバッテリーを貸しましょうか。mobairu batterii o kashimashou ka.Shall I lend you my mobile battery?
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about a new app.
- 蓮 Renこのアプリはモバイル限定です。Kono apuri wa mobairu gentei desu.This app is mobile only.
- 美咲 Misakiパソコンでは使えないの？Pasokon de wa tsukaenai no?Can't it be used on a computer?
- 蓮 Renはい、モバイルでしか動きません。Hai, mobairu de shika ugokimasen.Yes, it only works on mobile.
- 美咲 Misakiじゃあ、スマホで入れてみるね。Jaa, sumaho de irete miru ne.Then I'll try installing it on my smartphone.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry モバイル, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
