西洋

• Reading: せいよう
• Romaji: seiyou
• Kanji breakdown: 西 (sei/nishi) — west; 洋 (yō) — ocean, Western
• Pronunciation: /seː.joː/

Meaning

The West; Western countries. A general term for Europe and the Americas as a cultural region.

Used to refer to Western civilization, culture, and countries as distinct from 東洋 (tōyō, the East/Orient). Common in compounds like 西洋料理 (Western cuisine), 西洋音楽 (Western music), and 西洋史 (Western history). Not used for specific countries but rather for Western culture as a whole.

Examples

1. 西洋の文化に興味があります。 I'm interested in Western culture.
2. この建物は西洋風のデザインです。 This building has a Western-style design.
3. 日本は明治時代に西洋の技術を学びました。 Japan learned Western technology during the Meiji era.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, history, food

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Chinese 西洋 (xīyáng). Compound of 西 (sei, west) and 洋 (yō, ocean). Originally referred to the lands across the western ocean from East Asia.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal