浮世絵（うきよえ、ukiyoe）
- ukiyo-e

浮世絵 (うきよえ) refers to a genre of Japanese art that flourished from the Edo period (1603-1868). ⚫︎It is often translated as "pictures of the floating world," reflecting the transient nature of life and the focus on the pleasures and entertainments of the time. ⚫︎浮世絵 typically features woodblock prints, but can also include paintings. ⚫︎Subjects often include beautiful women (bijin), actors, landscapes, historical scenes, and depictions of everyday life. ⚫︎The 浮世絵 style is known for its bold lines, vibrant colors, and distinctive compositions.

⚫︎歌川広重の浮世絵は、日本の風景を美しく描いています。 Translation: Hiroshige's 浮世絵 beautifully depicts Japanese landscapes. ⚫︎あの美術館には、多くの浮世絵が展示されています。 Translation: That museum exhibits many 浮世絵.

浮世絵 is used to refer to the art genre itself. ⚫︎You might use it when discussing art history, visiting a museum, or describing a specific piece of artwork. ⚫︎When discussing a specific print, you can say 浮世絵 of [subject].

⚫︎The word is typically written with the kanji 浮世絵. ⚫︎The reading is うきよえ (hiragana). ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎While there aren't direct synonyms, you could use phrases like "Japanese woodblock prints" or "Edo period art" when discussing the subject matter.

⚫︎There are no direct antonyms for 浮世絵. The concept of 浮世絵 is not about an opposite.

この浮世絵は、歌舞伎役者を写したものです。 ・Translation: This 浮世絵 depicts kabuki actors. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the subject of the 浮世絵 artwork.

私は、有名な浮世絵の展覧会に行きました。 ・Translation: I went to an exhibition of famous 浮世絵. ・Explanation: This sentence describes an experience related to 浮世絵.

⚫︎The word 浮世 (うきよ) originally meant "the sorrowful world" (referring to the Buddhist concept of impermanence). ⚫︎However, during the Edo period, the meaning shifted to focus on the pleasures of life, and it came to represent the fleeting moments of joy and entertainment. ⚫︎絵 (え) simply means "picture" or "painting". ⚫︎Therefore, 浮世絵 represents "pictures of the floating world."