劇場

• Reading: げきじょう
• Romaji: gekijou
• Kanji breakdown: 劇 (geki) — drama, play; 場 (jou) — place, venue
• Pronunciation: /ɡe.ki.dʑoː/

Meaning

Theater; playhouse. A building or venue where plays, concerts, and performances are held.

A noun referring to a physical venue for live performances. Used for both traditional Japanese theaters (kabuki, noh) and modern Western-style theaters. Commonly seen in names of specific venues and in compound expressions like 劇場版 (gekijouban, theatrical release of a film).

Examples

1. 新しい劇場が駅の近くにオープンした。 A new theater opened near the station.
2. 劇場の中はとても静かだった。 It was very quiet inside the theater.
3. この映画の劇場版を見に行きたい。 I want to go see the theatrical version of this movie.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, performing arts, movies

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 劇 (drama, play) and 場 (place, venue). The combination literally means 'a place for drama,' directly describing a performance venue.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal