How to Say "Movie Theater" in Japanese

映画館

eigakan[e̞ːɡa̠kã̠ɴ]

The English phrase "movie theater" is translated into Japanese as 映画館 (eigakan).

映画館 is the most common way to refer to a movie theater in Japanese, specifically a building where people pay to watch movies on a large screen.

How does it change in a sentence?

When you want to express movement toward a movie theater, you should use the particles へ (e) or に (ni) after 映画館.

eigakan

The word for 'movie' inside the phrase, 映画 (eiga), is quite poetic. It is a compound of the characters for 'shadow' and 'picture', literally translating to 'shadow picture'.
Japanese moviegoers are traditionally expected to remain completely silent in the 映画館, including avoiding the rustling of snack bags, which is seen as more disruptive than in some Western cultures.
In Japanese, the word 館 (kan) in 映画館 originally referred to a large palace or a residence of a high-ranking official.

映画館にいたんだ。
I was at a movie theater.
This sentence shows how to use 映画館 to state your location.
Tatoeba #189288 by bunbuku, translation #26437 by CK
映画館に行こうよ。
Let's go to a movie theater.
This sentence uses 映画館 to make a suggestion to go to a theater.
Tatoeba #10616122 by small_snow, translation #11114940 by CK
映画館で働いてます。
I work at a movie theater.
This sentence uses 映画館 to describe where you work.
Tatoeba #12143064 by small_snow, translation #11367663 by ddnktr
今日、友達と映画館へ行くよ。
Today, I'm going to the movie theater with my friend.
12 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are deciding where to meet for a date.

大翔 Hiroto

映画館で待ち合わせしよう。
Eigakan de machiawase shiyou.
Let's meet at the movie theater.
美咲 Misaki

いいよ。どの映画館にする？
Ii yo. Dono eigakan ni suru?
Okay. Which movie theater should we choose?
大翔 Hiroto

駅の近くの映画館がいいな。
Eki no chikaku no eigakan ga ii na.
I'd like the movie theater near the station.
美咲 Misaki

了解。じゃあ、そこでね。
Ryokai. Jaa, soko de ne.
Understood. See you there then.

Sources

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