で有名
de yūmei
In Japanese, "something is famous for" is expressed as で有名 (de yūmei).
This phrase is used to indicate that a person or place is well known because of a specific quality or feature.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the particle で and the na-adjective 有名, which means "famous" or "well-known".
Which one should you use?
While で有名 is the base form, you should use で有名な when you want to use the phrase to modify a noun directly, such as saying "the city famous for sushi".
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase in a polite sentence, add です after it to form で有名です. If you are modifying a noun directly, you must change the form to で有名な.
How do you pronounce it?
de yūmei
Did you know?
- If you want to say someone is 'infamous' or 'notorious' in Japanese, you often use the same word 有名 but add the adverb 悪い意味で meaning 'in a bad sense'.
- In formal writing or news reports, you may see 名高い (nadakai) instead of 有名. This expression literally means 'name high' and carries a more poetic or prestigious connotation.
- In Japanese media, if a place is famous for a specific food, it is often called a 名物 (meibutsu), which literally translates to a 'famous thing' and is used as a noun rather than an adjective.
Examples in context
- 新潟（にいがた）は美味（おい）しい米（こめ）で知られています。Niigata is known for its delicious rice.
- あの町（まち）はラーメンって有名だよ。That town is famous for its ramen, you know.
- 彼女（かのじょ）は歌手（かしゅ）で有名だけど、実（じつ）はとても謙虚（けんきょ）なんだよ。She's famous as a singer, but in reality, she's very humble.
- 大阪（おおさか）は観光地（かんこうち）として有名です。Osaka is famous as a tourist destination.
- この映画（えいが）は感動（かんどう）的（てき）なストーリーで有名だ！This movie is famous for its touching story!
- 京都は古いお寺で有名です。Kyoto is famous for old temples.
- 彼は料理で有名です。He is famous for his cooking.
- この町は温泉で有名です。Kono machi wa onsen de yuumei desu.This town is famous for its hot springs.
- 彼は料理で有名になりました。Kare wa ryouri de yuumei ni narimashita.He became famous for his cooking.
- 京都は古いお寺で有名ですね。Kyoto wa furui otera de yuumei desu ne.Kyoto is famous for its old temples, isn't it?
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing travel destinations in a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui北海道は食べ物で有名だよね。Hokkaido wa tabemono de yuumei da yo ne.Hokkaido is famous for its food, right?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、特に海鮮が最高だよ。Un, tokuni kaisen ga saikou da yo.Yeah, especially the seafood is the best.
- 結衣 Yui今度、一緒に食べに行こう！Kondo, issho ni tabe ni ikou!Let's go eat there together sometime!
- 大翔 Hirotoいいね、楽しみにしてるよ。Ii ne, tanoshimi ni shiteru yo.Sounds good, I'm looking forward to it.
