Japanese Around the Home: Bathroom


Text Translation Below

The following text translation breaks down each word individually so you can follow along with the audio or use it as a quick reference.



Phrase and Translation

Japanese Phrase:

お風呂場はとてもきれいです。

Romaji (Transliteration):
Ofuroba wa totemo kirei desu.

English Translation:
The bathroom is very clean.

Word Breakdown:

  • お風呂場 (Ofuroba)
    • Meaning: Bathroom (specifically the bathing area).
    • Etymology: Combines お風呂 (ofuro), meaning “bath,” with 場 (ba), meaning “place.”
    • Significance: Refers to the bathing area in Japanese homes, which is separate from the toilet area.
  • は (Wa)
    • Meaning: Topic marker.
    • Function: Indicates that the sentence is about お風呂場 (the bathroom).
    • Significance: A key grammatical particle that establishes the topic of a statement in Japanese.
  • とても (Totemo)
    • Meaning: Very.
    • Type: Adverb.
    • Significance: Adds emphasis to adjectives or verbs, making the sentence more descriptive.
  • きれい (Kirei)
    • Meaning: Clean, neat, or beautiful.
    • Type: な-adjective (adjective that can also act as a noun).
    • Significance: A versatile word often used to describe cleanliness or aesthetic beauty.
  • です (Desu)
    • Meaning: Is, polite sentence-ending particle.
    • Function: Adds politeness and formality to the sentence.
    • Significance: Reflects Japanese culture’s emphasis on respect and politeness in communication.

Words of Significance:

お風呂場 (Ofuroba)

  • Meaning: Bathroom (specifically the bathing area).
  • Etymology: Combines お風呂 (ofuro), meaning “bath,” with 場 (ba), meaning “place.”
  • Significance: In Japanese homes, the bathing area is typically separate from the toilet area, reflecting the cultural emphasis on cleanliness and relaxation in bathing.

とても (Totemo)

  • Meaning: Very.
  • Type: Adverb.
  • Significance: Used to intensify adjectives or verbs, it is a staple word in everyday Japanese to add emphasis or express strong feelings.

きれい (Kirei)

  • Meaning: Clean, neat, or beautiful.
  • Type: な-adjective (adjective that can also act as a noun).
  • Significance: A versatile word that can describe physical cleanliness (e.g., a tidy room) or aesthetic beauty (e.g., a beautiful flower), showcasing its dual use in practical and artistic contexts.

です (Desu)

  • Meaning: Is, polite sentence-ending particle.
  • Function: Adds politeness and formality to sentences, making them suitable for neutral or formal conversations.
  • Significance: Highlights the Japanese cultural value of respect and politeness, as its usage softens statements and maintains social harmony.


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