(りゃくご)

りゃくご
noun
abbreviation; acronym
1. abbreviation; acronym; shortened word
A word or phrase that has been shortened from its full form, including both truncated words and terms formed from initial letters.
それは(なん)略語(りゃくご)ですか。
What is that an abbreviation for?
日本語(にほんご)にも英語(えいご)からの略語(りゃくご)(おお)い。
There are many abbreviations from English in Japanese too.
この文書(ぶんしょ)では略語(りゃくご)使(つか)場合(ばあい)最初(さいしょ)正式名称(せいしきめいしょう)記載(きさい)してください。
In this document, when using abbreviations, please write out the full name first.

Refers to a word or phrase that has been shortened from its full form. Combines (りゃく) (abbreviation, omission) and () (word, language).

USAGE:

  • Used for both abbreviations (shortened words) and acronyms (words formed from initials)
  • Japanese has many abbreviations formed by taking the first two mora of compound words (e.g., スマホ from スマートフォン)
  • English-origin acronyms are also common in Japanese (e.g., SNS, IT, AI)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 略語(りゃくご)使(つか)う: to use an abbreviation
  • 略語(りゃくご)意味(いみ): the meaning of an abbreviation
  • 略語(りゃくご)()う: to say in abbreviated form
  • 略語(りゃくご)一覧(いちらん): list of abbreviations

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 省略(しょうりゃく): omission, abbreviation — the act of shortening, broader in scope
  • 頭文字(かしらもじ): initials, acronym — specifically refers to initial letters
  • 短縮形(たんしゅくけい): shortened form — a more technical/linguistic term