Translation and Meaning of: シャワー - syawa-

The word 「シャワー」 (syawa-) in Japanese refers to the term "shower." Its origin can be traced back to the English "shower," which literally means a type of water bath that is sprayed. This linguistic loan is an example of how Japanese has incorporated words from other languages, especially English, after the Meiji era (1868-1912), when Japan began to open itself up to Western influences. The phonetic adaptation resulted in the way Japanese people pronounce "shower."

The use of 「シャワー」 (syawa-) in everyday Japanese encompasses both the idea of a shower and taking a shower bath. It is common to find this word in various situations, such as in informal conversations, advertisements for products, or even in signs at establishments that offer baths or spas. Thus, this expression has become an integral part of modern vocabulary in Japan, symbolizing the integration of Western practices into the daily life of the Japanese people.

Characteristics of the expression「シャワー」 (syawa-)

• Logo becomes versatile, used in descriptions of facilities, such as "シャワー室" (syawa-shitsu) which means "shower room".
• The word adapts well to various contexts, used both in residential settings and in public places.
• In addition, with the popularization of products and utilities, it has become a reference not only to the act of bathing but also to the related infrastructure.

The phenomenon of cultural borrowing is evident in the adoption of 「シャワー」 (syawa-) and illustrates the dynamism of the Japanese language. This word, while preserving its Western roots, also incorporates itself into the Japanese lifestyle. Therefore, the term serves not only as a description of an object but also as an indicator of the social and cultural changes that have occurred in Japan over the past decades.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• シャワー (shawaa) - Shower
• 水浴 (miyu) - Bath or immersion in water
• 水洗い (mizuarai) - Wash with water

シャワー

Romaji: syawa-
Kana: シャワー
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: bath

Meaning in English: shower

Definition: A device that sprays a fine jet of water to wash the body.

Example Sentences - (シャワー) syawa-

See below some example sentences:

私は毎日浴室でシャワーを浴びます。

Watashi wa mainichi yokushitsu de shawaa o abimasu

I take a shower every day in the bathroom.

I take a bath in the bathroom every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 浴室 (yokushitsu) - noun meaning "bathroom"
• で (de) - particle that indicates the place where the action takes place, in this case, "in the bathroom"
• シャワー (shawa-) - noun meaning "shower"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "shower"
• 浴びます (abimasu) - Verb that means "to take a shower"

私は毎朝シャワーを浴びます。

Watashi wa maiasa shawaa o abimasu

I take a shower every morning.

I take a shower every morning.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎朝 - adverb meaning "every morning"
• シャワー - noun meaning "shower"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 浴びます - Verb that means "to take a shower"