定番

• Reading: ていばん
• Romaji: teiban
• Kanji breakdown: 定 (fixed/standard) + 番 (number/turn) → standard item, classic choice
• Pronunciation: /te.i.ba.n/

Meaning

A classic, go-to, must-have — something that is a standard, reliable choice everyone knows about.

From the retail concept of a permanently stocked item, 定番 now broadly means anything that is a tried-and-true classic. In travel, it refers to the standard must-visit spots. In food, the signature dish. In fashion, the timeless staple. Unlike 穴場, 定番 embraces popularity — something is 定番 precisely because it has proven itself over time.

Examples

1. 京都の定番スポットといえばやっぱり清水寺だよね。 When it comes to classic Kyoto spots, it's gotta be Kiyomizu Temple, right?
2. 北海道の定番お土産は白い恋人でしょ。 The classic Hokkaido souvenir is Shiroi Koibito, obviously.
3. この店の定番メニューはカツカレーだよ。 This restaurant's signature dish is the katsu curry.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, food, daily conversation, reviews

Tone: recommending, matter-of-fact

Do Say

• 東京の定番観光地ってどこ？ (What are the classic tourist spots in Tokyo?)
• お花見の定番って言ったらやっぱり上野公園だよね。 (When it comes to classic hanami spots, it's gotta be Ueno Park.)

Don't Say

• 新しくオープンしたばかりの店を「定番」とは呼べない — まだ実績がない (You can't call a newly opened place 'teiban' — it hasn't proven itself yet)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing 定番 with 穴場 — they are opposites. 定番 is well-known and classic; 穴場 is hidden and undiscovered
• Thinking 定番 means boring — it implies reliable quality, not staleness

Origin & History

Originally a retail/fashion term meaning a permanently stocked item (定 = fixed, 番 = number/turn, referring to a permanent product number). Extended to general usage meaning any classic, standard, or go-to choice. Mainstream since the late Shōwa period.

Cultural Context

Era: Shōwa-era retail origin, general usage from 1980s+

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across Japan in all contexts from travel guides to everyday conversation. One of the most common recommendation words in Japanese.