欧おう米べい

お

う

べ

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

Europe and the United States; the West

Refers broadly to Western countries, especially Europe and the US, often in contrast with Japan or Asia. Used in political, economic, and cultural contexts.

欧おう米べいの文ぶん化かに興きょう味みがあります。
I'm interested in Western culture.
欧おう米べい諸しょ国こくとの貿ぼう易えきが増ふえている。
Trade with Western countries is increasing.

See all 40 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

欧おう米べいに留りゅう学がくするto study abroad in Europe or the US
大だい学がく卒そつ業ぎょう後ご、欧おう米べいに留りゅう学がくするつもりだ。
I plan to study abroad in the West after graduating from university.
欧おう米べいとの関かん係けいを強きょう化かするto strengthen relations with the West
日本にほんは欧おう米べいとの関かん係けいを強きょう化かしようとしている。
Japan is trying to strengthen its relations with the West.
欧おう米べいで〈事こと〉が流りゅう行こうするfor something to become popular in the West
このダイエット法ほうは欧おう米べいで流りゅう行こうしている。
This diet method is currently popular in the West.
〈事こと〉が欧おう米べい化かするfor something to become Westernized
日本にほん人じんの食しょく生せい活かつは欧おう米べい化かしてきた。
Japanese eating habits have become Westernized.

Kanji

欧Europe
米rice, USA, metre

Related words

西せい洋ようN4
西洋 is a broader, more historical or cultural term for 'the West', while 欧米 specifically pairs Europe with the United States and is common in political and economic contexts.
西せい欧おうN3
欧米 explicitly includes both Europe and America, whereas 西欧 refers only to (Western) Europe.

Don't confuse with

欧おう州しゅう
欧州 refers to Europe alone, whereas 欧米 covers both Europe and the United States, so the two are easily confused because they share the kanji 欧.

Word family

欧おう米べい諸しょ国こく
Western countries; European and North American countries
親しん欧おう米べい路ろ線せん
pro-Western alignment; pro-US/Europe policy

Etymology

Compound of 欧 (Europe) and 米 (America, from the first character of 亜米利加).