概念(がいねん)

がいねん
noun
concept; notion; idea
1. concept; notion; idea
An abstract idea or general understanding of something.
基本的(きほんてき)な概念(がいねん)を理解(りかい)する。
Understand the basic concept.
「自由(じゆう)」という概念(がいねん)について考(かんが)える。
Think about the concept of 'freedom.'
この概念(がいねん)は日本語(にほんご)にはない。
This concept doesn't exist in Japanese.

概念(がいねん) is a compound: 概(がい) (outline/general) + 念(ねん) (idea).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 概念(がいねん)を理解(りかい)する (to understand a concept)
  • 概念(がいねん)を持(も)つ (to have a concept/notion)
  • 概念(がいねん)的(てき)（な） (conceptual)
  • 抽象(ちゅうしょう)概念(がいねん) (abstract concept)
  • 固定(こてい)概念(がいねん) (fixed idea, preconception)

RELATED VOCABULARY:

  • 考(かんが)え (thought, idea - more casual)
  • 観念(かんねん) (notion, sense)
  • 理念(りねん) (ideology, principle)

ACademic/technical contexts often use 概念(がいねん) when discussing abstract or theoretical ideas.

general
Added 2026.1.16 8:13 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
04500/04709_gainen