場(ば)

ば
noun / suffix
place, scene, occasion
1. place, location
A physical location or space.
その場(ば)を離(はな)れた。
I left the place.
その場(ば)で決(き)めましょう。
Let's decide on the spot.
話(はな)し合(あ)いの場(ば)を設(もう)けた。
We set up a venue for discussion.
場(ば)を設(もう)ける = to set up a venue/forum
2. scene, situation
A particular moment or situation.
場(ば)の雰囲気(ふんいき)を読(よ)む。
To read the atmosphere of the situation.
Common expression about social awareness
場(ば)を盛(も)り上(あ)げる。
To liven up the atmosphere.
彼(かれ)の冗談(じょうだん)で場(ば)が白(しら)けてしまった。
His joke made the mood go flat.
場(ば)が白(しら)ける = the mood becomes awkward/flat
3. field (physics)
A region in which a force operates.
磁場(じば)の強(つよ)さを測定(そくてい)する。
To measure the strength of a magnetic field.
磁場(じば) = magnetic field
重力場(じゅうりょくば)の中(なか)では物体(ぶったい)は落下(らっか)する。
Objects fall within a gravitational field.
重力場(じゅうりょくば) = gravitational field
電磁場(でんじば)の理論(りろん)は物理学(ぶつりがく)の重要(じゅうよう)な分野(ぶんや)だ。
The theory of electromagnetic fields is an important area of physics.

Used independently or as a suffix. Often relates to social situations and atmosphere.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 場(ば)を読(よ)む (to read the room/situation)
  • その場(ば)で (on the spot)
  • 場(ば)を盛(も)り上(あ)げる (to liven things up)
  • 場(ば)が白(しら)ける (the mood becomes awkward)

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 場所(ばしょ) (place, location)
  • 場面(ばめん) (scene)
  • 場合(ばあい) (case, situation)
  • 現場(げんば) (actual site, scene)
  • 磁場(じば) (magnetic field)

NOTE:

  • When read as 場(ば), often refers to social/situational context
  • In compounds, both ば and じょう readings occur

Related Words

Related: 場所(ばしょ) (place)
general
Added 2026.1.12 21:24 · Revised 2026.3.2 8:42
03500/03699_ba