俳優

• Reading: はいゆう
• Romaji: haiyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 俳 (hai) — actor, haiku; 優 (yuu) — excellence, gentleness
• Pronunciation: /ha.i.jɯː/

Meaning

Actor; actress; performer. A person who acts in plays, films, television, or other performing arts.

A noun referring to a professional actor or actress. 俳優 is gender-neutral, though 女優 (joyuu, actress) is sometimes used specifically for women. It covers actors in all media — film, theatre, television, and commercials. Common collocations include 主演俳優 (lead actor) and 俳優業 (acting profession).

Examples

1. 彼は日本で一番人気のある俳優だ。 He's the most popular actor in Japan.
2. 俳優になるために演劇の学校に通っている。 I'm attending an acting school to become an actor.
3. あの俳優は映画にもドラマにも出ている。 That actor appears in both movies and TV dramas.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, film, theatre

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 俳 (actor, haiku) and 優 (excellence, gentleness). Together they suggest a person who excels in theatrical performance.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal