接頭辞(せっとうじ)

せっとうじ
noun
prefix
1. prefix
A morpheme added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning or create a new word. A term used in linguistics and grammar study.
「お」は丁寧(ていねい)さを表(あらわ)す接頭辞(せっとうじ)だ。
'O' is a prefix that expresses politeness.
「不(ふ)」は否定(ひてい)を表(あらわ)す接頭辞(せっとうじ)だ。
'Fu' is a prefix that expresses negation.
日本語(にほんご)の接頭辞(せっとうじ)と接尾辞(せつびじ)を理解(りかい)すると、語彙力(ごいりょく)が飛躍的(ひやくてき)に伸(の)びる。
Understanding Japanese prefixes and suffixes dramatically improves your vocabulary.

接頭辞(せっとうじ) is a linguistics term meaning "prefix" — a morpheme added to the beginning of a word. Understanding prefixes is very helpful for building vocabulary.

WORD FORMATION:
接(せつ) (connect) + 頭(とう) (head/beginning) + 辞(じ) (word element)

COMMON JAPANESE PREFIXES:

  • お / ご: politeness (お茶(ちゃ), ご飯(はん))
  • 不(ふ) / 無(む) / 非(ひ): negation (不(ふ)可能(かのう), 無(む)料(りょう), 非(ひ)公式(こうしき))
  • 大(だい) / 超(ちょう): emphasis (大(だい)好(す)き, 超(ちょう)簡単(かんたん))
  • 再(さい): re- (再(さい)利用(りよう))

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 接頭辞(せっとうじ)をつける (to attach a prefix)
  • 接頭辞(せっとうじ)と接尾辞(せつびじ) (prefixes and suffixes)

RELATED:
接尾辞(せつびじ) (suffix — attached to the end of a word).

Related Words

Related: 接尾辞(せつびじ) (suffix)
general
Added 2026.3.14 10:36 · Revised 2026.3.30 12:20
16500/16602_settouji