生配信
Meaning
A live broadcast or real-time stream — emphasizing that the content is happening right now, not pre-recorded.
生配信 adds 生 (nama, raw/live) to 配信 (haishin, stream) to specifically emphasize that the broadcast is happening in real time. While 配信 can technically include pre-recorded content distribution, 生配信 unambiguously means a live broadcast. The term carries excitement and immediacy — viewers know they are watching something unscripted and unpredictable. It is used across all streaming platforms and is a common way to announce or advertise livestreams.
Examples
- 今から生配信始めます！コメントお待ちしてます。 Starting the live stream now! Drop some comments!
- 生配信だからハプニングも全部映っちゃうんだよね。 Since it's live, every little mishap gets caught on camera.
- 生配信の臨場感は録画じゃ味わえない。 The energy of a live stream is something a recording just can't capture.
Usage Guide
Context: streaming, social media, YouTube, event announcements
Tone: excited, immediate
Do Say
- 今夜生配信やるらしいよ！ (Apparently they're doing a live stream tonight!)
- 生配信ならではのリアクションが好き。 (I love the reactions you can only get in a live stream.)
Don't Say
- 録画した動画を生配信と呼ぶ (Don't call a pre-recorded video a 'live stream' — 生 specifically means live)
Common Mistakes
- Using 生配信 for pre-recorded premieres — those are not truly live even if they have live chat
- Not understanding that 生 implies unedited and unpredictable content
Origin & History
Combination of 生 (nama, live/raw) + 配信 (haishin, stream/broadcast). 生 has long been used in Japanese to indicate something is live or unprocessed (生放送 = live broadcast, 生ビール = draft beer). Applied to streaming in the 2010s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s, with the rise of streaming platforms
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across Japan. The 生 prefix carries the same 'live/raw' nuance as in 生放送 (live TV broadcast) and 生演奏 (live musical performance).
Related Phrases
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation and spaced repetition