標 準 語(ひょうじゅんご)

ひょうじゅんご

noun

standard language; standard Japanese

1. standard language; standard Japanese

The form of Japanese based primarily on Tokyo dialect that is used in education, media, and official contexts. It serves as the common language understood across all regions of Japan.

NHKのアナウンサーは標準語(ひょうじゅんご)で話(はな)す。

NHK announcers speak in standard Japanese.

学校(がっこう)では標準語(ひょうじゅんご)を教(おし)える。

Standard Japanese is taught in schools.

彼(かれ)は普段(ふだん)は方言(ほうげん)だが、仕事(しごと)では標準語(ひょうじゅんご)を使(つか)う。

He normally speaks in dialect, but uses standard Japanese at work.

Writing

標準(ひょうじゅん) - standard
語(ご) - language

Etymology

標準語(ひょうじゅんご) was established during the Meiji era to unify the country linguistically. It's based primarily on the Tokyo dialect with some modifications.

Related words

共通語(きょうつうご) - common language (often used interchangeably)
東京弁(とうきょうべん) - Tokyo dialect (similar but not identical)
方言(ほうげん) - dialect (contrasting term)

Usage

標準語(ひょうじゅんご) is used in:

教育(きょういく) - education
放送(ほうそう) - broadcasting
公式(こうしき)な場面(ばめん) - official settings
ビジネス - business

Cultural note

Many Japanese speakers are bidialectal, using their local dialect (方言(ほうげん)) in informal settings and 標準語(ひょうじゅんご) in formal contexts. This code-switching is a normal part of Japanese linguistic behavior.

Register

Neutral. Standard term used in both academic and everyday contexts.

Related Words

Compare: 方言(ほうげん) (dialect)

Related: 訛(なま)り (accent)

Related: 共通語(きょうつうご) (common language)

Related: 関東弁(かんとうべん) (Kanto dialect)

Compare: 京都弁(きょうとべん) (Kyoto dialect)

Compare: 大阪弁(おおさかべん) (Osaka dialect)

Compare: 普通語(ふつうご) (standard language)

general

Added 2026.1.19 17:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

07000/07421_hyoujungo