コンセプト

こんせぷと
noun
concept, theme, vision
1. concept, theme, guiding idea
The central idea or theme behind a product, project, business, or creative work.
(みせ)のコンセプトは(なん)ですか。
What is the concept of the shop?
コンセプトがしっかりしているデザインだ。
It's a design with a solid concept.
自然(しぜん)との共生(きょうせい)」をコンセプトにした(あたら)しいホテルがオープンした。
A new hotel opened with the concept of "coexisting with nature."

コンセプト comes from English "concept" but is used more narrowly in Japanese, typically referring to the guiding theme or vision behind a creative or business endeavor.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 〜をコンセプトにする: to have ~ as a concept
  • コンセプトが明確(めいかく)だ: the concept is clear
  • コンセプトに(もと)づく: based on the concept

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • コンセプト(てん): concept store (shop designed around a specific theme)
  • コンセプトカフェ: concept café (themed café)
  • コンセプトカー: concept car

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 概念(がいねん): concept (more abstract, academic usage)
  • 構想(こうそう): vision, plan (for larger projects)
  • コンセプト is typically used for the creative or thematic direction of something, while 概念(がいねん) refers to abstract ideas in an intellectual sense.