Translation guide
PN is an abbreviation for 'proper noun'. This guide explains how to express the concept of a proper noun in Japanese, including how to refer to names, places, and organizations, and how to ask for or clarify proper nouns.
proper noun
The user wants to talk about the grammatical or linguistic concept of a proper noun.
The standard linguistic term for 'proper noun'. Used in grammar discussions, language learning, and formal contexts.
'Tokyo' is a proper noun.
A shorter form of 固有名詞, often used in technical or abbreviated contexts.
This list includes proper nouns.
The user wants to ask about the definition or nature of a proper noun.
A natural way to ask 'What is a proper noun?' in casual conversation.
What is a proper noun?
The user wants to state that a specific word is a proper noun.
Pattern meaning '~ is a proper noun'. Replace 〜 with the word in question.
'Mt. Fuji' is a proper noun.
The user wants to refer to a proper noun in the sense of a person's name or a specific title.
General word for 'name'. Can be used for people, places, or things, but is most natural for personal names.
Is this name a proper noun?
More formal term for 'name' or 'designation', often used for organizations, products, or official names.
固有名詞 is a technical term. In casual settings, you can simply say 名前 (name) or 人の名前 (person's name) if the context is clear. For example, instead of saying 'Is that a proper noun?', you might ask 'Is that a name?' (それは名前ですか?).
会社の名称は固有名詞として扱われます。
The company name is treated as a proper noun.