劇場
gekijō[ɡe̞kʲiʑo̞ː]
The Japanese word for "theatre" is 劇場 (gekijō).
劇場 is used to refer to a venue hosting live stage plays, musicals or traditional arts such as Kabuki. While 劇場 refers to the building or space, the term 演劇 (engeki) is the most common way to refer to the art of theatre itself and 芝居 (shibai) specifically refers to the act of performing or a play's performance.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 劇場 is composed of the kanji 劇, meaning play or drama and 場, meaning place or location.
Which one should you use?
Use 劇場 for venues hosting live stage performances, whereas 映画館 is the specific term used for a movie theater.
How do you pronounce it?
gekijō
Did you know?
- The word 芝居 (shibai) for a play literally means 'grass place'. This refers to the ancient practice of performing plays on temporary stages made of grass or turf.
- In traditional Japanese theatre, the 'hanamichi' or 'flower path' is a footbridge that extends from the stage into the audience. It allows actors to enter and exit through the crowd, breaking the fourth wall.
- The kanji component for 'drama' in 劇場, which is 劇, can also be found in the word for 'sudden' or 'drastic' in certain contexts.
Examples in context
- 今夜は劇場にいくつもりですか。Are you going to the theatre tonight?This sentence is useful for asking about plans to visit the theatre with the word 劇場.Tatoeba #171068 by bunbuku, translation #7427199 by deniko
- ８月の蒸し暑い夜に新しい劇場がオープンしました。On a sultry night in August a new theatre opened for business.This sentence describes a new theatre opening using the word 劇場.Tatoeba #234948 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #72324 by sundown
- 私はコンサートの真最中に劇場を出なければならなかった。I had to leave the theatre in the middle of the concert.This sentence describes leaving the theatre during a concert using the word 劇場.Tatoeba #217521 by bunbuku, translation #54830 by sundown
- Engeki no kikakuten wa doko desu ka (演劇の企画展はどこですか)Where is the theater exhibition?
- Bunka gekijō ni ikimasu (文化劇場に行きます)I am going to the cultural theatre.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are discussing where to meet for a play.
- 結衣 Yuiどの劇場で公演が行われますか。Dono gekijō de kōen ga okonawaremasu ka.Which theatre is the performance being held at?
- 健太 Kenta駅の近くにある劇場です。Eki no chikaku ni aru gekijō desu.It is the theatre near the station.
- 結衣 Yuiわかりました。劇場前で待ち合わせしましょう。Wakarimashita. Gekijō-mae de machiawase shimashō.I see. Let's meet in front of the theatre.
- 健太 Kentaいいですね。そこで会いましょう。Ii desu ne. Soko de aimashō.Sounds good. I'll see you there.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 劇場, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
