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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "custom" in Japanese?
慣習
kanshuu
In Japanese, "custom" is 慣習 (kanshuu).
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Pronunciation
Kanshuu has a nasal n in kan, followed by a long stretched shuu, so hold that second half a bit longer.
Writing and usage
慣習 is written using kanji. It's a noun, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.
Example sentence
室内で靴を脱ぐのは地元の習慣です。
shitsunai de kutsu wo nugu noha jimoto no shuukan desu.
Removing your shoes indoors is a local custom.
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How to remember 慣習
Kanshuu ends in a long 'shuu', like the sound of a broom sweeping, a fitting image for the custom of tidying shoes at the door.
Related words
- freedom 自由 jiyuu
- justice 正義 seigi
- peace 平和を heiwa wo
- equality 平等 byoudou
- opportunity 機会 kikai
- responsibility 責任 sekinin
- challenge チャレンジ charenji
- tradition 伝統 dentou
- culture 文化 bunka
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 慣習
How do you pronounce 慣習?
Kanshuu has a nasal n in kan, followed by a long stretched shuu, so hold that second half a bit longer.
Is 慣習 formal or casual?
慣習 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 慣習 written in Japanese?
慣習 is written using kanji. Romanised, it reads as kanshuu.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Custom" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.
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