石鹸
sekken[se̞k̚kẽ̞ɴ]
The English word "soap" is translated into Japanese as 石鹸 (sekken). Wiktionary also lists シャボン (shabon).
Meaning: substance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 石鹸 | sekken | [se̞k̚kẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
| シャボン | shabon | [ɕa̠bõ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
The term is used to refer to the substance used for cleaning. It is very common to see the second kanji written in hiragana as 石けん instead of using the kanji 鹸.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 石鹸 is composed of the kanji 石 (stone) and 鹸 (soap/alkali).
Which one should you use?
While 石鹸 refers to the substance, the colloquial term シャボン is often used to refer to soap bubbles or the act of blowing bubbles.
How do you pronounce it?
sekken
Did you know?
- The word シャボン is a distant relative of the English word 'soap', having traveled through Portuguese or Spanish before entering Japanese.
- In Japanese culture, the image of シャボン (bubbles) is often associated with fragility and fleeting beauty in poetry and song.
- The original term 石鹸 entered the language from Middle Chinese, long before the Portuguese brought the word シャボン.
Examples in context
- 石鹸がないよ。There's no soap.This sentence is useful for expressing the absence of the substance 石鹸.Tatoeba #4211973 by small_snow, translation #272231 by CK
- 石鹸、取って。Give me the soap.This sentence is useful for requesting the object 石鹸.Tatoeba #9314871 by small_snow, translation #7884603 by AlanF_US
- 石鹸がありません。There isn't any soap.This sentence is useful for a polite way to state that there is no 石鹸.Tatoeba #142339 by tommy_san, translation #448962 by CK
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a local supermarket.
- 陽葵 Himariこの石鹸はいい香りがしますね。Kono sekken wa ii kaori ga shimasu ne.This soap smells nice, doesn't it?
- 健太 Kentaそうですね、人気があるみたいですよ。Sou desu ne, ninki ga aru mitai desu yo.You're right, it seems to be quite popular.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんは、どの石鹸がいいと思いますか？Kenta-san wa, dono sekken ga ii to omoimasu ka?Kenta, which soap do you think is good?
- 健太 Kenta僕は、この自然派の石鹸が気に入っています。Boku wa, kono shizen-ha no sekken ga ki ni itte imasu.I like this natural soap.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soap” translations and entries 石鹸, シャボン, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries シャボン, 石鹸, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
