Word Detail

The Japanese word 俳優 俳優, pronounced はいゆう (haiyuu), primarily means "actor" or "actress". It refers to a person who performs in stage plays, films, television dramas, and other forms of entertainment. It is a general term encompassing both male and female performers.

⚫︎あの俳優は、とても人気があります。 Translation: That actor is very popular. ⚫︎彼女は将来、舞台俳優になりたいと思っています。 Translation: She wants to become a stage actor in the future. ⚫︎新作映画には、有名な俳優が出演しています。 Translation: A famous actor is appearing in the new movie.

This word is used in a variety of contexts to describe individuals who act. ⚫︎You can use it when talking about someone's profession, their roles in specific productions, or their popularity. ⚫︎It is a common and widely understood term in Japanese. ⚫︎It's suitable for both formal and informal conversations, depending on the context.

⚫︎The standard writing is 俳優, using kanji. ⚫︎The hiragana reading is はいゆう. ⚫︎There is no variation in okurigana.

⚫︎役者 (yakusha) - This is a more general term for "performer" or "actor/actress" but can also be used in place of 俳優. ⚫︎女優 (joyuu) - This specifically means "actress". ⚫︎男優 (danyuu) - This specifically means "actor".

There isn't a direct antonym. You might use terms related to other roles in the production, such as: ⚫︎監督 (kantoku) - "director" ⚫︎脚本家 (kyakuhonka) - "screenwriter" ⚫︎制作 (seisaku) - "producer"

その俳優は、素晴らしい演技で観客を魅了した。 ・Translation: That actor captivated the audience with their wonderful performance. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 俳優 to describe an actor and their impact on the audience through acting.

俳優になるために、厳しいトレーニングを積む必要があります。 ・Translation: You need to undergo rigorous training to become an actor. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the effort needed for someone who wants to be an actor.

The word 俳優 is a compound word. ⚫︎俳 (hai) refers to "play" or "drama". ⚫︎優 (yuu) means "superior", "excellent", or "person". ⚫︎Thus, 俳優 literally translates to "excellent performer" or "superior performer" in the context of drama or acting.