看板（かんばん、kanbaん）
- signboard

The Japanese word 看板, pronounced かんばん (kanban), primarily refers to a sign or a signboard. It is a visual display used to convey information, advertise a business or product, or provide directions. It can be a physical structure, a poster, or a digital display. The meaning extends to the content displayed on the sign itself. It's an important part of visual communication in Japan. The core meaning focuses on something that functions to display a message or purpose for others.

⚫︎お店の看板 Translation: The shop's sign. ⚫︎看板メニュー Translation: Featured menu/signature dish. ⚫︎駅の看板を見て、道順を確認した。 Translation: I looked at the sign at the station to check the directions.

This word is widely used in daily conversation and business contexts. You can use 看板 to describe any kind of sign, whether it's a street sign, a store sign, or an advertisement. It is also used to refer to a business's reputation or a product that a company is proud to showcase. Use it when you are discussing visual displays or the image of something. It is always a noun.

⚫︎The word 看板 is typically written using its Kanji form: 看板. ⚫︎The reading is かんばん in hiragana. ⚫︎There aren't any common variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎標識 (hyoushiki) - Sign, mark ⚫︎サイン (sain) - Sign (loanword) ⚫︎広告 (koukoku) - Advertisement

There isn't a direct antonym for 看板. The opposite could be thought of as something without a sign or advertisement, or being hidden.

新しいレストランの看板はとても目を引く。 ・Translation: The new restaurant's sign is very eye-catching. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the sign of a new restaurant and how it draws attention.

この会社は、その新製品を看板商品にしたいと考えています。 ・Translation: This company wants to make that new product their flagship product. ・Explanation: This sentence uses the meaning to represent the products.

The word 看板 is formed from two kanji: 看 (kan), meaning "to look at" or "to see," and 板 (ban), meaning "board" or "plank." The combination thus describes a "board to look at," which accurately reflects the function of a sign.