正方形
seihōkei[se̞ːho̞ːke̞ː]
The English word 'square' is translated into Japanese as 正方形 (seihōkei).
The term 正方形 is used to describe something that is shaped like a square. In the fashion and design industries, the katakana loanword スクエア (sukuea) is also frequently used to describe square-shaped items.
Meaning: shaped like a square (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 正方形 is composed of 正 meaning regular or correct, 方 meaning direction or side and 形 meaning shape.
Which one should you use?
While 正方形 refers specifically to a square with four equal sides, the word 長方形 (chōhōkei) is used to refer to a rectangle. For mathematical contexts involving squaring a number (multiplying a number by itself), use 二乗する or 自乗する.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 正方形 as an adjective to modify a noun, add the particle の after it, such as 正方形の紙 (a square piece of paper).
How do you pronounce it?
seihōkei
Did you know?
- In Japanese, calling someone 四角い (shikakui), meaning 'square', can be a metaphor for someone who is rigid, stubborn or lacks flexibility in their thinking.
- The character 正 in 正方形 is used in Japanese schools for tallying votes or counts by drawing five strokes in a specific grid, creating a visually balanced shape.
- In traditional Japanese architecture, the 正方形 layout is rare for rooms, as most traditional rooms are based on the rectangular proportions of tatami mats.
Examples in context
- 正方形には四つの辺がある。A square has four sides.This sentence demonstrates the use of 正方形 to state that a square has four sides.Tatoeba #142870 by bunbuku, translation #271699 by CK
- 正方形は４つの同じ長さの辺をもつ。A square has four equal sides.This sentence uses 正方形 to describe a square having four sides of equal length.Tatoeba #142869 by bunbuku, translation #271700 by Zifre
- 正方形は長方形のうちの一つですし、長方形は平行四辺形の一つです。A square is one type of rectangle, and a rectangle is one type of parallelogram.This sentence uses 正方形 to explain the geometric relationship between a square, a rectangle and a parallelogram.Tatoeba #498577 by xtofu80, translation #499403 by blay_paul
- 私の机は四角です。My desk is square.
- 町の公園は四角いですね。The town's park is square.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daito are choosing a table for their room.
- 陽葵 Himariこの正方形のテーブルはどうかな？Kono seihoukei no teeburu wa dou kana?What do you think of this square table?
- 大翔 Hirotoちょっと小さい気がするよ。Chotto chiisai ki ga suru yo.I feel like it's a bit too small.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、もっと大きい正方形を探そう。Jaa, motto ookii seihoukei o sagasou.Then let's look for a larger square one.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね。あっちにいいのあるよ。Sou da ne. Acchi ni ii no aru yo.True. There's a good one over there.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 正方形, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
