1.
Western film; Western movie
A film produced in Western countries (Europe, America, etc.), as distinguished from Japanese or Asian cinema. A broad classification used in Japanese film culture.
西洋映画が好きですか。
Do you like Western movies?
昔は西洋映画のことを洋画と呼んでいた。
In the past, Western films were called yōga.
この映画館では西洋映画と邦画の両方を上映している。
This movie theater screens both Western films and Japanese films.
Composed of 西洋 (the West/Western countries) and 映画 (movie). In everyday Japanese, 洋画 is the more common and concise term for Western films. 西洋映画 is the fuller, more formal expression.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 西洋映画ファン: fan of Western movies
- 西洋映画の名作: masterpiece of Western cinema
- 西洋映画を観る: to watch a Western movie
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 洋画: Western film — the standard short form, much more common in casual speech
- 邦画: Japanese film — the counterpart category
- 外国映画: foreign film — broader, includes Asian films too