現象

• Reading: げんしょう
• Romaji: genshou
• Kanji breakdown: 現 (gen) — appear, present; 象 (shou) — image, form
• Pronunciation: /ɡe.n.ɕoː/

Meaning

Phenomenon. An observable event or occurrence, especially one whose cause is in question.

A noun used in scientific, philosophical, and everyday contexts to describe observable events. Common collocations include 自然現象 (shizen genshou, natural phenomenon), 社会現象 (shakai genshou, social phenomenon), and 不思議な現象 (fushigi na genshou, mysterious phenomenon). Neutral and objective in tone.

Examples

1. オーロラは美しい自然現象の一つだ。 In Japan, the birth rate is declining year after year.
2. この現象がなぜ起きるのか調べたい。 The number of traffic accidents has decreased significantly.
3. SNSの流行は面白い社会現象だと思う。 We came up with a new method to reduce costs.

Usage Guide

Context: science, academia, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 現 (appear, present) and 象 (image, form, elephant). Together they describe something that appears before one's eyes, an observable manifestation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated