1.
serial drama; TV series; ongoing television drama
A television drama that airs weekly over a set number of episodes, typically one season (one cour) of 10-12 episodes in Japan. Distinguished from single-episode specials or movies.
今期の連続ドラマは面白い。
This season's TV series are interesting.
毎週月曜の連続ドラマを楽しみにしている。
I look forward to the weekly Monday drama series.
あの俳優は連続ドラマに初めて主演することになった。
That actor has been cast as the lead in a serial drama for the first time.
A television drama format that runs weekly across multiple episodes, forming the backbone of Japanese prime-time programming. In Japan, dramas typically follow a seasonal pattern (winter, spring, summer, fall) with each season lasting about three months (one cour).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 連続ドラマに出演する: to appear in a serial drama
- 連続ドラマの最終回: the final episode of a serial drama
- 連続ドラマの視聴率: viewership ratings of a serial drama
- 月9ドラマ: Monday 9 PM drama (famous Fuji TV time slot)
ABBREVIATION:
Commonly shortened to 連ドラ (れんドラ) in casual speech. This abbreviation is widely used in everyday conversation, entertainment news, and social media.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 単発ドラマ: one-off/special drama — a standalone drama broadcast as a single episode
- 朝ドラ: morning drama — NHK's serialized 15-minute morning drama (formally 連続テレビ小説)
- 大河ドラマ: historical drama — NHK's year-long Sunday drama series