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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "document" in Japanese?
書類
shorui
In Japanese, "document" is 書類 (shorui).
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Pronunciation
書類 is written using kanji. Romanised as shorui, it sounds roughly like "shoh-roo-ee" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Shorui combines 書 (write/document) with 類 (kind/category). A category of written papers.
Example sentence
書類はどこにありますか?
Shorui wa doko ni arimasu ka?
Where is the document?
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How to remember 書類
Written papers. The kanji for 'sho' means to write.
Related words
- letter 手紙 tegami
- notebook ノート nōto
- pen ペン pen
- rubber band 輪ゴム wagomu
- monitor モニター monitā
- ruler 定規 jōgi
- pencil 鉛筆 enpitsu
- stationery 文房具 bunbōgu
- calculator 電卓 dentaku
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 書類
How do you pronounce 書類?
書類 is romanised as shorui. Say it roughly like "shoh-roo-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 書類 formal or casual?
書類 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 書類 written in Japanese?
書類 is written using kanji. Shorui combines 書 (write/document) with 類 (kind/category).
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Document" in other languages
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