1.
wallpaper (for walls)
Decorative paper or material applied to interior walls for aesthetic purposes.
壁紙を張り替える。
To replace the wallpaper.
新しい壁紙にしたら部屋が明るくなった。
The room brightened up after we put up new wallpaper.
花柄の壁紙を選んで、リビングの雰囲気を変えた。
I chose a floral wallpaper and changed the atmosphere of the living room.
2.
wallpaper; background image (on a computer or phone screen)
The background image displayed on a computer desktop or smartphone home screen.
スマホの壁紙を変えた。
I changed my phone's wallpaper.
好きな写真をパソコンの壁紙に設定した。
I set my favorite photo as my computer wallpaper.
季節ごとにスマホの壁紙を変えるのが楽しい。
It's fun to change my phone wallpaper with each season.
USAGE:
The original meaning refers to physical wallpaper for interior decoration. The digital sense (desktop/phone background) has become equally common in modern usage.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 壁紙を張る (to put up wallpaper)
- 壁紙を変える (to change the wallpaper)
- 壁紙を設定する (to set as wallpaper)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- クロス: cross, cloth wallcovering — used by professionals for vinyl wallcoverings
- 背景: background — broader term for any background