ブイ
bui[bɯ̟i]
The letter V in Japanese is ブイ (bui).
This term is used to name the letter V.
How do you pronounce it?
bui
What mistakes should you avoid?
In informal speech, the 'B' sound ぶ is often used as a replacement for the 'V' sound.
Did you know?
- Japanese people often use the 'V' sign with their fingers to mean 'peace', but they may refer to this gesture as the ピース (piisu) sign rather than the ブイ sign.
- To represent a true 'V' sound in modern loanwords, Japanese uses a special modified character ヴ, though it is less common than using the standard ブ.
- The word ブイ can also refer to a 'buoy' used in maritime navigation, as the two terms are homophones in Japanese.
Examples in context
- バイオリンViolin
- ベストBest
- ビデオVideo
- ビザVisa
- バイキングViking
- ヴァンVan
- アルファベットのブイを書いてください。Arufabetto no bui o kaite kudasai.Please write the letter V.
- ブイという文字はどこにありますか？Bui to iu moji wa doko ni arimasu ka?Where is the letter V?
- これはブイの形をしています。Kore wa bui no katachi o shite imasu.This is in the shape of a V.
Example conversation
Misaki is helping Kenta spell a word in English.
- 美咲 Misaki次の文字は何ですか？Tsugi no moji wa nan desu ka?What is the next letter?
- 健太 Kentaええと、ブイだと思います。Eeto, bui da to omoimasu.Uh, I think it is a V.
- 美咲 Misakiブイですね。わかりました。Bui desu ne. Wakarimashita.A V, right. I understand.
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます、美咲さん。Arigatou gozaimasu, Misaki-san.Thank you, Misaki.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ブイ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ブイ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
