有名人（ゆうめいじん、yuumeijin）
- celebrity

The word 有名人 (ゆうめいじん, *yūmeijin*) means a "celebrity," a "famous person," or a "well-known figure." It refers to an individual who is widely recognized and known by the public, often due to their achievements, profession, or presence in the media. A 有名人 usually enjoys public recognition and may be the subject of public interest.

⚫︎ あの俳優は世界中で有名人です。 Translation: That actor is a celebrity all over the world. ⚫︎ 彼女はスポーツ界の有名人です。 Translation: She is a celebrity in the sports world. ⚫︎ 彼は小説家として有名人になりました。 Translation: He became famous as a novelist.

You can use 有名人 in various contexts when discussing individuals who are widely recognized, such as actors, singers, athletes, politicians, writers, or any public figures. It is suitable for formal and informal situations, though the level of formality might influence the surrounding words used. You can use it when talking about someone's fame, career, or impact on society.

⚫︎ This word is typically written in kanji as 有名人. ⚫︎ The reading is ゆうめいじん in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎ The okurigana (送りがな, suffix hiragana) is consistent, so there are no variations.

⚫︎ 著名人 (*chosēijin*) - prominent person, celebrity, well-known person (more formal) ⚫︎ セレブ (*serebu*) - celebrity (loanword from English) ⚫︎ 有名人物 (*yūmei jinbutsu*) - famous person (similar meaning, but can feel slightly more formal or detailed in some contexts)

⚫︎ 一般人 (*ippanjin*) - ordinary person, the general public ⚫︎ 無名の人 (*mumē no hito*) - unknown person, nobody (literally "nameless person") ⚫︎ 一般市民 (*ippan shimin*) - ordinary citizen

彼はテレビ番組で有名人になった。 ・Translation: He became a celebrity on the TV show. ・Explanation: This sentence describes how someone gained fame through appearing on a television program.

その映画は有名人をたくさん登場させた。 ・Translation: That movie featured many celebrities. ・Explanation: This sentence describes that the movie included many well-known figures.

The word 有名人 is composed of two kanji: 有名 (*yūmei*), meaning "famous" or "well-known," and 人 (*jin*), meaning "person." Therefore, 有名人 literally translates to "famous person."