抽象(ちゅうしょう)

抽象(ちゅうしょう) means abstraction — dealing with ideas and concepts rather than concrete, tangible things. Most commonly used in the form 抽象(ちゅうしょう)的(てき) (abstract).

Common forms

• 抽象(ちゅうしょう)的(てき)(な): abstract (na-adjective)
• 抽象(ちゅうしょう)化(か): abstraction (the process of making abstract)
• 抽象(ちゅうしょう)画(が): abstract painting/art
• 抽象(ちゅうしょう)概念(がいねん): abstract concept

Similar words

• 抽象(ちゅうしょう)的(てき): abstract (ideas, theories, vague)
• 具体(ぐたい)的(てき): concrete, specific (examples, details, tangible)

This pair appears together very frequently: 抽象(ちゅうしょう)的(てき)な話(はなし)を具体(ぐたい)的(てき)に説明(せつめい)する (to explain abstract talk concretely).

Domains

Used in philosophy, art, academic writing, and computing. In software development, 抽象(ちゅうしょう)化(か) refers to code abstraction.