What Does 洋 Mean in Japanese?
洋 refers to the ocean or to things associated with the West.
It appears in words such as 洋服, 洋食, 西洋, and 太平洋.
In modern vocabulary, it often contrasts with Japanese-style things.
Reading
On’yomi: ヨウ (you)
Kun’yomi: —
Basic Information
| Kanji | 洋 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ocean, Western-style |
| Stroke Count | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
洋 originally refers to the open sea. In modern compounds it often contrasts Western things with Japanese-style ones, as in 洋服 and 洋食.
Common Words
- 洋服（ようふく / youfuku） — Western-style clothes
- 洋食（ようしょく / youshoku） — Western-style food
- 西洋（せいよう / seiyou） — the West, Western countries
- 東洋（とうよう / touyou） — the East, the Orient
- 太平洋（たいへいよう / Taiheiyou） — Pacific Ocean
- 洋室（ようしつ / youshitsu） — Western-style room
Example Sentences
-
今日は洋服を着て出かけます。
きょうはようふくをきてでかけます。 / Kyou wa youfuku o kite dekakemasu.
I am going out in Western-style clothes today.
-
この店は洋食が有名です。
このみせはようしょくがゆうめいです。 / Kono mise wa youshoku ga yuumei desu.
This restaurant is famous for Western-style food.
-
ホテルでは洋室を予約しました。
ほてるではようしつをよやくしました。 / Hoteru de wa youshitsu o yoyaku shimashita.
I reserved a Western-style room at the hotel.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
The on’yomi ヨウ is used in nearly all common words, including 西洋, 洋服, 洋食, and 太平洋.
Summary
洋 means ocean or Western-style and is useful in vocabulary about culture, clothing, food, and geography.