Meaning
movie; film; cinema
Nuance & Usage
映画 is the standard word for movie or film. Common expressions: 映画を見る (watch a movie), 映画館 (eigakan — movie theater), 映画監督 (eiga kantoku — film director). Japanese cinema (日本映画 — Nihon eiga) has a rich tradition including directors like Kurosawa Akira. The word ドラマ (dorama) refers to TV dramas, not movies, so don't confuse them.
Common Mistakes
Don't confuse 映画 (movie/film) with ドラマ (TV drama series). Also, while English uses "watch" a movie, Japanese uses 見る (miru — to see/watch) or 観る (miru — to watch/view, same pronunciation but nuanced as appreciating art). Both are correct; 観る is slightly more formal/appreciative. Also: 映画を見に行く (go to see a movie) is the natural phrasing for going to the cinema.
Example Sentences
週末に映画を見に行きませんか？
しゅうまつにえいがをみにいきませんか？
Would you like to go see a movie this weekend?
最近見た映画の中で何が一番面白かったですか？
さいきんみたえいがのなかでなにがいちばんおもしろかったですか？
Among the movies you've seen recently, which was the most interesting?
この映画は去年アカデミー賞を取りました。
このえいがはきょねんあかでみーしょうをとりました。
This film won an Academy Award last year.
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 映画 with 4 different question types.
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