洋(よう)

よう
prefix
Western (style/origin)
1. Western (style); Western-origin
A prefix attached to nouns to indicate that something is of Western (European or American) style or origin, in contrast to 和(わ) (Japanese-style). Common in food, clothing, room, and music terms.
洋食(ようしょく)が好(す)きだ。
I like Western food.
家(いえ)には和室(わしつ)と洋室(ようしつ)がある。
The house has both a Japanese-style room and a Western-style room.
結婚式(けっこんしき)では洋装(ようそう)と和装(わそう)の両方(りょうほう)を楽(たの)しむ人(ひと)も多(おお)い。
At weddings, many people enjoy wearing both Western-style and Japanese-style outfits.

Used almost exclusively as a prefix, paired with the matching 和(わ) prefix for the Japanese counterpart. Originally meant "ocean" — by extension, "things from across the ocean."

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 洋食(ようしょく): Western food
  • 洋室(ようしつ): Western-style room
  • 洋服(ようふく): Western clothes
  • 洋風(ようふう): Western-style
  • 洋楽(ようがく): Western music
  • 洋画(ようが): Western film / Western painting

CONTRAST WITH:

  • 和(わ): Japanese (style) — opposite prefix; 和食(わしょく), 和室(わしつ), 和服(わふく) etc.
general
Added 2026.6.7 11:04
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