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洋書 (ようしょ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
Western book ; foreign book
Refers to books published in Western countries, often in European languages, as opposed to Japanese or Chinese books. Common in library and bookstore contexts.
を
勉べん
強きょう
し
て
いる
。
He is studying English in order to read Western books.
Similar words 和わ 書しょ 和書 refers to Japanese books, while 洋書 refers to Western books.
外がい 国こく 語ご の 本ほん 外国語の本 is a more general term for books in foreign languages, not necessarily Western.
Etymology Compound of 洋 (よう, 'Western, ocean') and 書 (しょ, 'book, writing'). The kanji 洋 originally referred to the ocean, but came to mean 'Western' via the idea of overseas.
