渋谷
Shibuya[ɕibɯ̟ja̠]
Shibuya is the name of one of the special wards that form Tokyo, in Japanese 渋谷. Wiktionary also lists 渋谷区 (Shibuya-ku).
Meaning: one of the special wards that form Tokyo (name)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 渋谷 | Shibuya | [ɕibɯ̟ja̠] (narrow) [ɕibɯ̟ta̠ɲ̟i] (narrow) |
| 渋谷区 | Shibuya-ku |
Which one should you use?
渋谷 is the general name for the area, while 渋谷区 is the formal administrative designation for the specific special ward.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix -ku to 渋谷 (forming 渋谷区) turns the name into a formal administrative designation for the ward.
How do you pronounce it?
Shibuya
Did you know?
- While 渋谷 is a major commercial hub, the name itself is believed to have originated from the name of a local river or the 'shibui' (astringent) taste of the water in the area.
- While a learner might see the kanji, the name is often written in the phonetic katakana シブヤ in fashion magazines to give it a more modern, stylized, and 'pop' appearance.
- The name 渋谷 is associated with the 'Hachiko' statue, but in Japanese, the statue is referred to as ハチ公像, adding a respectful suffix to the dog's name.
Examples in context
- ６時に渋谷駅で会いましょう。Let's meet at Shibuya Station at six.This sentence is useful for suggesting a meeting time and place at 渋谷.Tatoeba #235051 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #72428 by CN
- 忠犬ハチ公の像は渋谷駅前に立っている。The statue of Hachiko, the faithful dog, stands in front of Shibuya Station.This sentence is useful for describing the location of the Hachiko statue in relation to 渋谷.Tatoeba #126430 by KK_kaku_, translation #277560 by CK
- 渋谷に行くにはどの電車に乗ればいいですか？Which train should I take to go to Shibuya?This sentence is useful for asking for directions to 渋谷 via train.Tatoeba #147984 by KK_kaku_, translation #266575 by CN
- 今度の休みに渋谷で買い物をしよう。Let's go shopping in Shibuya on our next day off.
- 渋谷の交差点は有名です。The Shibuya crossing is famous.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are planning where to meet for lunch.
- 大翔 Hiroto今日のランチは渋谷にする？kyou no ranchi wa shibuya ni suru?Shall we have lunch in Shibuya today?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、渋谷がいい！un, shibuya ga ii!Yes, Shibuya sounds good!
- 大翔 Hirotoじゃあ、お昼に渋谷駅で待ち合わせね。jaa, ohiru ni shibuya eki de machiawase ne.Then, let's meet at Shibuya Station at lunchtime.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった、楽しみ！wakatta, tanoshimi!Got it, I'm looking forward to it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shibuya” translations and entries 渋谷, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
