電子書籍(でんししょせき)

A compound noun referring to books in digital format, read on electronic devices.

Forms

電子(でんし) (electronic) + 書籍(しょせき) (books, publications). Abbreviated as 電書(でんしょ) in casual speech.

Common collocations

• 電子書籍(でんししょせき)リーダー: e-book reader device
• 電子書籍(でんししょせき)を購入(こうにゅう)する: to purchase an e-book
• 電子書籍(でんししょせき)ストア: e-book store
• 電子書籍(でんししょせき)化(か): digitization of books

Similar words

• 紙(かみ)の本(ほん): physical/paper book
• 電子書籍(でんししょせき): e-book/digital book

Usage

Manga in particular has seen massive growth in 電子書籍(でんししょせき) format in Japan. The term is neutral to slightly formal; in casual conversation, people may just say 電書(でんしょ) or use service names like Kindle.