ロマン

also: ローマン · ろうまん

ロ

マ

ン

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Refers to medieval or heroic romances, such as Arthurian legends, or grand adventure tales.

from French roman

grand dream; adventurous spirit; epic undertaking

usually written using kana alone

Often used for ambitious, romantic, or seemingly impossible dreams and projects; carries a sense of idealism and adventure.

full-length novel; romance (novel)

usually written using kana alone

A somewhat dated term for a long, often romantic or adventurous novel; modern usage tends toward 長編小説 or 大河小説.

usually written using kana alone

Used for romantic love or a love story; often interchangeable with ロマンス, though ロマン can sound more literary or idealistic.

〈事こと〉にロマンを感かんじるto feel a sense of romance/adventure in something
彼かれは宇う宙ちゅう開かい発はつにロマンを感かんじている。
He feels a sense of adventure and romance in space development.
ロマンを求もとめるto seek a grand dream or adventurous ideal
彼かれは安あん定ていした仕し事ごとを捨すてて、ロマンを求もとめて旅たびに出でた。
He gave up his stable job and set off on a journey in search of adventure.
男おとこのロマンa man's romantic dream or aspiration (a set phrase)
大おおきな船ふねを操そう縦じゅうするのは男おとこのロマンだ。
Piloting a big ship is every man's dream.
ロマンがあるto have a romantic or adventurous appeal
古ふるい蒸じょう気き機き関かん車しゃにはロマンがある。
Old steam locomotives have a certain romantic appeal.

ロマンス sense 4
ロマンス is the everyday word for a love affair or romance story, while ロマン (in this sense) sounds more literary or idealistic.
ロマンティシズム sense 5
ロマンティシズム is a more academic loanword for the artistic movement, while ロマン is the shorter, everyday term often seen in compounds like ロマン主義.
夢ゆめN5sense 2
夢 is the plain, everyday word for a dream or aspiration, while ロマン adds a nuance of idealistic, adventurous grandeur to that dream.

ロマンチックN1
ロマンチック is an adjective meaning 'romantic' in mood or atmosphere, whereas ロマン is a noun naming the concept of romance, adventure, or idealism itself.

ロマンUsage78%
Standard katakana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
ローマンUsage13%
Alternate pronunciation reflecting the French source; less common than ロマン.
浪漫Usage8%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
- ロマン
  Ateji spelling, used for stylistic effect.
- ろうまん
  rarely-used kana form
- ローマン
浪曼Usage1%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
- ロマン
  Rare ateji variant.
- ろうまん
  rarely-used kana form
- ローマン
ろうまん
rarely-used kana form
Rare hiragana spelling.

Borrowed from French 'roman', meaning a novel or romance. The ateji spellings 浪漫 and 浪曼 were assigned phonetically.