How to Say "Number One" in Japanese

ナンバーワン

nanbā wan[nã̠mba̠ːβ̞ã̠ɴ]

The Japanese phrase for "number one" is ナンバーワン (nanbā wan).

ナンバーワン is used to describe the best or most successful person or thing within a specific group.

How do you pronounce it?

nanbā wan

In many competitive contexts like sports or exams, instead of using the English-derived ナンバーワン, Japanese speakers will often use the word 頂点 (chouten), which literally means 'the summit' or 'the peak'.
Japanese uses the word 一番 (ichiban) to mean 'the most' when modifying an adjective. For example, to say 'the most beautiful', one says 一番 followed by the word for 'beautiful'.
You might see ナンバーワン used in Japanese song lyrics or television titles to give a phrase a more 'stylish' or 'cool' international flair, even if the sentence is otherwise grammatically Japanese.

私の一番好きな色は青です。
My favorite color is blue.
彼は一番速い選手です。
He is the fastest player.
この店は一番のレストランです。
This shop is the number one restaurant.
この曲は一番好きだよ！
I like this song the most!
あのゲームのキャラクターは一番強い！
The character in that game is the strongest!
この店のラーメンは一番美味しい！
The ramen at this shop is the most delicious!
この景色は最上だね！
This view is the best!
彼はクラスのナンバーワンだ。
Kare wa kurasu no nanba-wan da.
He is the number one in his class.
この店は味でナンバーワンです。
Kono mise wa aji de nanba-wan desu.
This shop is number one for its taste.
彼女は世界でナンバーワンの歌手になりたい。
Kanojo wa sekai de nanba-wan no kashu ni naritai.
She wants to be the number one singer in the world.

Two friends are discussing a singing competition.

結衣 Yui

結肥ちに、あな〓があるいちっとおモいいです。
Yui-chan ni, anata ga aru ichi tto omoii desu.
Yui, I think you are the best.
健太 Kenta

た】に。だうも、あな〓おあるだるいきあ。
Tatta ne. Demo, anata o aru daru iki ai.
Really? But there are other great people.
結衣 Yui

とあいか。結肥ちちちちは　ににあに　ナンバーワンです。
To i ka. Yui-chan wa zettai ni nanbāwan desu.
No way. Yui, you are definitely number one.
健太 Kenta

ありがといあい。ありがといあい。
Arigato gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.

Sources

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