“Famous” in Japanese is 有名 (ゆうめい), pronounced yūmei.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Famous. A な-adjective that ends in い, like きれい.
Example sentences
- 京都は有名な町です。きょうとはゆうめいなまちです。Kyoto is a famous city.
- このお店は有名です。このおみせはゆうめいです。This shop is famous.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 有名. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Before a noun | 有名な〜 ゆうめいな〜 | famous (thing) |
| Polite present | 有名です ゆうめいです | is famous |
| Negative | 有名じゃないです ゆうめいじゃないです | isn’t famous |
| Past | 有名でした ゆうめいでした | was famous |
| Past negative | 有名じゃなかったです ゆうめいじゃなかったです | wasn’t famous |
| Adverb (に) | 有名に ゆうめいに | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say famous in Japanese?
Famous in Japanese is 有名 (ゆうめい), pronounced “yūmei”.
How do you write famous in Japanese?
It's written 有名 with kanji, or ゆうめい in hiragana. Both are read yūmei.
Is 有名 on the JLPT?
Yes. 有名 (yūmei) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.