真珠湾
Shinjuwan
The English phrase Pearl Harbor is translated into Japanese as 真珠湾 (Shinjuwan) or パールハーバー.
Meaning: a harbor on Oahu (name)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 真珠湾 | Shinjuwan |
| パールハーバー | Pāru Hābā |
Both terms refer to the harbor on Oahu. 真珠湾 is the standard Japanese name, while パールハーバー is a phonetic transliteration of the English name.
Which one should you use?
真珠湾 is the standard Japanese name written using kanji. In contrast, パールハーバー uses katakana to replicate the sound of the English name 'Pearl Harbor'.
How do you pronounce it?
Shinjuwan
Did you know?
- The kanji 真 in 真珠 can mean 'truth' or 'pure', but when paired with 珠 it refers specifically to the gemstone.
- In Japanese, パール (pearl) is often used for artificial pearls or fashion accessories, whereas 真珠 is reserved for natural pearls.
- While 真珠湾 is the official name, Japanese media often use パールハーバー in titles of movies and books to give the subject a more international or cinematic feel.
Examples in context
- パールハーバーについて知っていますか？Do you know about Pearl Harbor?
- 真珠湾はとても広いです。Shinjuwan wa totemo hiroi desu.Pearl Harbor is very large.
- 真珠湾へ行きたいです。Shinjuwan e ikitai desu.I want to go to Pearl Harbor.
- 真珠湾の景色は美しいです。Shinjuwan no keshiki wa utsukushii desu.The scenery of Pearl Harbor is beautiful.
Example conversation
Two siblings are planning their trip to Hawaii.
- 陽太 Yota真珠湾には行きますか？Shinjuwan ni wa ikimasu ka?Are you going to Pearl Harbor?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、陽太兄さんと一緒に行きます。Hai, Yota-niisan to issho ni ikimasu.Yes, I'm going with you, Yota.
- 陽太 Yota楽しみですね。Tanoshimi desu ne.That sounds exciting.
- 陽葵 Himariとても楽しみです！Totemo tanoshimi desu!I'm really looking forward to it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pearl harbor” translations and entries 真珠湾, パールハーバー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
