Translation and Meaning of: 眼鏡 - gankyou

If you are learning Japanese or are curious about the language, you have probably come across the word 眼鏡[がんきょう]. It is common in everyday life and appears in various contexts, from informal conversations to animes and mangas. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, writing in kanji, and how it is used in Japanese culture. Additionally, we will see tips to memorize this word and curiosities that go beyond the dictionary.

Meaning and writing of 眼鏡 [がんきょう]

The word 眼鏡[がんきょう] means "glasses". It is composed of two kanji: 眼 (gan), which refers to the eyes, and 鏡 (kyou), which means mirror or lens. Together, these characters form the idea of "lenses for the eyes", a quite literal description of the object.

It is worth noting that while 眼鏡 is the most common way to write "glasses" in Japanese, there is a simpler version: メガネ (megane), written in katakana. This variation is often used in informal situations, while 眼鏡 appears more in formal or technical texts.

Origin and Cultural Use

It is believed that glasses arrived in Japan around the 16th century, brought by European missionaries. The word 眼鏡, however, already existed before that, originally referring to optical instruments like telescopes. Over time, its meaning specialized to the prescription glasses we know today.

In Japanese culture, glasses have an interesting connotation. In animes and mangas, characters who wear 眼鏡 are often depicted as intelligent or studious. This stereotype is so strong that there is even a trope called "megane character" to describe this archetype.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

An easy way to remember 眼鏡 is to associate its kanjis with the object's function: 眼 (eye) + 鏡 (mirror/lens) = lenses for the eyes. If you already know words like 眼[め] (eye) or 鏡[かがみ] (mirror), it becomes even simpler to make this connection.

An interesting curiosity is that in Japan, there is a custom called "megane danshi" (男子), which refers to men who become more attractive when wearing glasses. This cultural phenomenon shows how an apparently simple accessory can have varied meanings in different societies.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• メガネ (megane) - Glasses (common term in Japanese)
• 眼鏡 (megane) - Glasses (more formal term, used in written contexts)
• めがね (megane) - メガネ (hiragana)

眼鏡

Romaji: gankyou
Kana: がんきょう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: shows; glasses

Meaning in English: spectacles;glasses

Definition: Tools to assist the eyes. Generally used to correct vision.

Example Sentences - (眼鏡) gankyou

See below some example sentences:

眼鏡をかけると視界がクリアになる。

Megane wo kakeru to shikai ga kuria ni naru

Wearing glasses makes your vision clear.

• 眼鏡 - glasses
• を - object particle
• かける - put on (glasses)
• と - Comparison particle
• 視界 - field of vision
• が - subject particle
• クリア - Of course
• に - adverbial particle
• なる - become

彼女は眼鏡を掛けている。

Kanojo wa megane o kakette iru

She is wearing glasses.

She wears glasses.

• 彼女 - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 眼鏡 - The word for "glasses" in Japanese is "眼鏡" (めがね, megane).
• を - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 掛けている - The present continuous form of the verb 掛ける (kakeru), which means "to use" or "to put on."

私は眼鏡を掛ける必要があります。

Watashi wa megane wo kakeru hitsuyou ga arimasu

I need to wear glasses.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 眼鏡 (megane) - glasses
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the object of the action, in this case "glasses"
• 掛ける (kakeru) - verb that means "to put on" or "to wear" in the context of glasses
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - adjective meaning "necessary" or "essential"
• が (ga) - subject particle indicating the subject of the action, in this case "I"
• あります (arimasu) - verb that means "to have" or "to exist" in the sense of possessing something