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written impressions; book report; review essay
A piece of writing in which one describes their personal impressions, thoughts, and feelings about something they read, watched, or experienced. A staple of Japanese school assignments.
Composed of 感想 (impressions, thoughts) + 文 (writing, text). This is one of the most common school writing assignments in Japan, particularly the 読書感想文 (book report) assigned during summer break.
Common collocations
- 読書感想文 — book report (the most common type)
- 感想文を書く — to write a review/report
- 映画の感想文 — movie review essay
- 感想文コンクール — book report contest
Cultural note
The 読書感想文 is a defining feature of Japanese school culture. Students from elementary through high school are assigned to read a book and write their personal impressions. Many students dread this assignment, and it has become a common topic in discussions about Japanese education.