ゲーム

• Reading: ゲーム
• Romaji: geemu
• Pronunciation: /ɡeː.mɯ/

Meaning

Game. Covers video games, board games, card games, and games in general.

A katakana loanword from English. In modern Japanese, ゲーム most commonly refers to video games (テレビゲーム or ゲーム for short). Japan is one of the world's leading video game producers. Common expressions include ゲームをする (to play a game) and ゲームセンター (arcade/game centre).

Examples

1. 友達とゲームをして遊びました。 I hung out playing games with my friends.
2. 新しいゲームを買いました。 I bought a new game.
3. ゲームは一日一時間までにしなさい。 Limit your gaming to one hour a day.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, hobbies, daily life

Tone: casual

Origin & History

Borrowed from English 'game.' Became ubiquitous in Japanese with the rise of Japan's video game industry in the 1980s, led by companies like Nintendo and Sega.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Young people, all ages

Social background: Universal