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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner

How do you say "what does this word mean" in Japanese?

この言葉はどういう意味ですか

kono kotoba hadouiu imi desuka

Phrase Kanji

In Japanese, "what does this word mean" is この言葉はどういう意味ですか (kono kotoba hadouiu imi desuka).

Listen to the pronunciation:

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Pronunciation

Say KOH-noh koh-toh-bah hah doh-oo-ee-oo EE-mee des-ka, with kotoba, meaning word, getting a clear opening stress.

Writing and usage

この言葉はどういう意味ですか is written using kanji. It's a phrase, 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

what does this word mean

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How to remember この言葉はどういう意味ですか

Kotoba sounds like 'coat-oh-bah' — picture unwrapping a coat to reveal the hidden meaning of a word inside.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

Questions about この言葉はどういう意味ですか

How do you pronounce この言葉はどういう意味ですか?

Say KOH-noh koh-toh-bah hah doh-oo-ee-oo EE-mee des-ka, with kotoba, meaning word, getting a clear opening stress.

Is この言葉はどういう意味ですか formal or casual?

この言葉はどういう意味ですか is a common everyday expression. Context and tone of voice matter more than the words themselves for how formal it sounds.

How is この言葉はどういう意味ですか written in Japanese?

この言葉はどういう意味ですか is written using kanji. Romanised, it reads as kono kotoba hadouiu imi desuka.

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.

"What does this word mean" 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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