ノート
nōto[no̞ːto̞]
The English phrase 'note' translates to Japanese as ノート (nōto) when referring to a notebook.
In Japanese, ノート is used to refer to the physical object of a notebook with blank pages. This differs from the English usage where 'note' might refer to a single piece of written information.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ノート is a loanword from the English 'note', written using the katakana script.
Which one should you use?
While an English speaker might use 'note' to mean a single written observation or a short message, the Japanese word ノート specifically refers to the physical notebook.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say you are writing in a notebook, use the particle に (ni) after ノート to indicate the location where the writing occurs, as seen in the phrase ノートに書く.
How do you pronounce it?
nōto
Did you know?
- Some Japanese students use ノートまとめ (nōto matome), which refers to the act of condensing and aesthetically organizing a ノート into a study guide using colorful pens and stickers.
- In Japanese schools, your ノート is not just a personal tool, but often a graded document that teachers inspect for neatness and completeness.
- While ノート is a loanword, Japanese people often use the verb 取る (toru), meaning 'to take', in the phrase ノートを取る (nōto o toru) to mean taking notes during a lecture.
Examples in context
- こちらのメモを読んだ？Did you read this memo?
- 新しいノートを買いました。Atarashii nōto o kaimashita.I bought a new notebook.
- このノートはとても大きいです。Kono nōto wa totemo ookii desu.This notebook is very large.
- ノートに名前を書いてください。Nōto ni namae o kaite kudasai.Please write your name in the notebook.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are at a stationery store.
- 健太 Kenta美咲、このノートはどう思う？Misaki, kono nōto wa dō omou?Misaki, what do you think of this notebook?
- 美咲 Misakiデザインがとても可愛いね。Dezain ga totemo kawaii ne.The design is very cute.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、これを買おうかな。Jā, kore o kaō kana.Then, I think I'll buy this one.
- 美咲 Misakiそれがいいと思うよ。Sore ga ii to omou yo.I think that's a good idea.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ノート, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
