ゲームセンター

げーむせんたー
noun
arcade; game center
1. arcade; game center; amusement arcade
A commercial entertainment facility with coin-operated video games, crane games, purikura (photo booths), and other amusement machines.
ゲームセンターで遊(あそ)ぶ。
To play at an arcade.
学校(がっこう)帰(かえ)りにゲームセンターに寄(よ)った。
I stopped by the arcade on the way home from school.
最近(さいきん)のゲームセンターはクレーンゲームやプリクラが人気(にんき)で、家族連(かぞくづ)れも多(おお)い。
At modern arcades, crane games and photo booths are popular, and many families visit too.

A Japanese-English compound (wasei eigo) from "game" + "center." Almost always abbreviated as ゲーセン in casual speech. A major part of Japanese entertainment culture, particularly popular among teenagers and young adults.

ABBREVIATION:
ゲーセン is the standard casual abbreviation. The full form ゲームセンター is used in formal contexts, signs, and written Japanese.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ゲームセンターに行(い)く: to go to an arcade
  • ゲームセンターで遊(あそ)ぶ: to play at an arcade
  • ゲームセンターの景品(けいひん): arcade prizes
  • ゲームセンター通(がよ)い: being a regular at the arcade

CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Japanese arcades are distinct from Western arcades in several ways. They typically occupy multiple floors and are organized by game type: fighting games, rhythm games, crane games (UFOキャッチャー), medal games, and purikura (プリクラ). While the global arcade industry has largely declined, Japanese game centers remain culturally significant, though they too have been decreasing in number.

RELATED TERMS:

  • ゲーセン: casual abbreviation
  • クレーンゲーム / UFOキャッチャー: crane game; claw machine
  • プリクラ: photo sticker booth
  • メダルゲーム: medal game (token-operated game)
general
Added 2026.5.7 20:18
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