Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

番付 (ばんづけ, banzuke) Japanese meaning: ranked list | Kotomora

番ばん付づけ

ば

ん

づ

け

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

ranked list; ranking chart

Most famously used for sumo wrestler rankings (banzuke), but also applied to entertainers, millionaires, and other ranked lists.

新あたらしい大おお相撲ずもうの番ばん付づけが発はっ表ぴょうされた。

The new sumo ranking chart was announced.

長ちょう者じゃ番ばん付づけで彼かれは上じょう位いに入はいった。

He ranked high on the millionaires' list.

2

program; playbill

Theater program listing performers and acts; less common than the ranking sense.

芝しば居いの番ばん付づけをもらって席せきを探さがした。
I got a theater program and looked for my seat.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の番ばん付づけが上あがる／下さがるfor someone's ranking to rise or fall
けがのせいで彼かれの番ばん付づけが下さがってしまった。
His ranking dropped because of an injury.
番ばん付づけに載のるto be included in the ranking list
新しん人じんの力りき士しが初はじめて番ばん付づけに載のった。
The rookie wrestler appeared in the rankings for the first time.
番ばん付づけを発はっ表ぴょうするto announce the rankings
相撲協会すもうきょうかいは来き場ば所しょの番ばん付づけを発はっ表ぴょうした。
The sumo association announced the rankings for the next tournament.

Kanji

番turn, number in a series
付adhere, attach, refer to
附affixed, attach, refer to

Related words

ランキング sense 1
ランキング is a general loanword for any ranking, while 番付 carries a traditional Japanese feel and is most strongly tied to sumo.
順じゅん位いN2sense 1
順位 refers to one's numerical standing or place in a ranking, while 番付 refers to the published list or chart itself.
序じょ列れつ sense 1
序列 is a more abstract, formal term for hierarchical order, whereas 番付 usually names a concrete, published ranking chart like sumo standings.

Don't confuse with

番ばん組ぐみN5sense 2
番組 means a TV or radio program, while 番付 in its program sense refers to a printed theater playbill listing performers.

Word family· 8

小こ番ばん付づけ
Edo-period small-size single-sheet prints with puzzles, stories, etc. · Edo-period playbills
板いた番ばん付づけ
large wooden ranking boards displayed outside sumo tournament venues
番ばん付づけ外がい
outside the rankings; unranked
番ばん付づけ表

Written forms

番ばん付づけUsage100%
Standard spelling; used in news and sumo contexts.
番ばん附づけ
Old character variant; rarely used today.
番ばん付づけ
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana; not standard.

Etymology

Compound of 番 (ban, 'number' or 'order') and 付 (tsuke, 'attach'). Originally referred to a list with numbers or ranks attached.

ひょう

sumo ranking chart; banzuke chart

紙かみ番ばん付づけ

paper ranking list; rankings written on paper

Show 3 more

絵え番ばん付づけ
illustrated sumo rankings
長ちょう者じゃ番ばん付づけ
list of the richest people; billionaires list
番ばん付づけ編へん成せい会かい議ぎ
rank-deciding committee