テレビゲーム

also: テレビ・ゲーム

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Meanings

1

video game (home console)

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to games played on a home console connected to a TV, as opposed to handheld or arcade games. Wasei-eigo from 'television game'.

wasei-eigo (Japanese-coined English), from televi(sion) game

週しゅう末まつはよく家いえでテレビゲームをして過すごす。
I often spend weekends playing video games at home.
新あたらしいテレビゲームを買かったので、今こん夜やは早はやく帰かえりたい。
I bought a new video game, so I want to go home early tonight.

See all 10 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

テレビゲームをするto play video games
週しゅう末まつは家いえでテレビゲームをすることが多おおい。
I often play video games at home on weekends.
テレビゲームに夢む中ちゅうになるto become absorbed in video games
息子むすこは最さい近きんテレビゲームに夢む中ちゅうになっている。
My son has recently become absorbed in video games.
テレビゲームで遊あそぶto play around with video games
子こ供どもたちはテレビゲームで遊あそぶのが好すきだ。
The kids like playing with video games.

Related words

ゲームN4
ゲーム is the broad word for any kind of game (board, sports, video), while テレビゲーム specifically means a video game played on a home console connected to a TV.
ビデオゲーム
ビデオゲーム is a less common, more technical synonym that can also include arcade or PC games, whereas テレビゲーム is specifically for home console games played on a TV.

Counted with

本ほんN5
Game titles are often counted as 本, but for the physical cartridge/disc itself some speakers may also use 本.

Written forms

テレビ・ゲーム
Variant with a middle dot; less common but still seen.
ＴＶゲーム
- テレビゲーム
  Abbreviated kanji form using the Latin-alphabet abbreviation TV; encountered in some contexts.
- テレビ・ゲーム

Etymology

Wasei-eigo from English 'television game'. The term was coined in Japan to describe early home console games that connected to a TV set.