Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 予告編 | yokokuhen | [jo̞ko̞kɯ̟̊hẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
| トレーラー | torērā | [to̞ɾe̞ːɾa̠ː] (narrow) |
In Japanese, both terms refer to a film trailer, but they are used in different contexts. 予告編 is the standard term for the content of a preview. The loanword トレーラー is frequently used in digital media and marketing environments to refer to the promotional video as a specific marketing asset.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 予告編 is composed of 予告 (yokoku), meaning 'notice' or 'announcement' and 編 (hen), meaning 'edition' or 'compilation'.
Which one should you use?
Use 予告編 when you are referring to the actual content of a film preview. In contrast, トレーラー is more common in industry contexts or when discussing the promotional video as a marketing tool. Additionally, you may encounter the shortened form 予告, which can mean 'preview' or 'announcement' in casual conversation, though 予告編 is the more precise term for a film trailer.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
トレーラー is a loanword from English and is commonly used in digital media and marketing contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
yokokuhen
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word トレーラー is also the standard term for a semi-trailer truck, meaning the same word refers to both a film preview and a heavy vehicle.
- The term 予告 is used in Japanese law to describe a 'notice of intent' or a formal warning before a legal action is taken.
- While 予告編 is the common term, the kanji 編 is actually a 'daiyōji' substitute for the more complex character 篇, which specifically denotes a section of a literary work.
Examples in context
- 新しい映画の予告編を見ました。Atarashii eiga no yokokuhen o mimashita.I saw the trailer for the new movie.
- この予告編はとても面白いですね。Kono yokokuhen wa totemo omoshiroi desu ne.This trailer is very interesting, isn't it?
- 予告編をYouTubeでチェックしましょう。Yokokuhen o Yūchūbu de chekku shimashō.Let's check the trailer on YouTube.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to watch at a cinema.
- 陽葵 Himariこの映画の予告編、見た？Kono eiga no yokokuhen, mita?Did you see the trailer for this movie?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、すごく迫力があったよ。Un, sugoku hakuryoku ga atta yo.Yeah, it was really powerful.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、今度の週末に見に行かない？Jaa, kondo no shūmatsu ni mi ni ikanai?Then, why don't we go see it this weekend?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいね、ぜひ行こう！Ii ne, zehi ikō!Sounds good, let's definitely go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “trailer” translations and entries 予告編, トレーラー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries トレーラー, 予告編, CC BY-SA 4.0.
