Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Accueil
Apprendre
Japonais
Vocabulaire
はくぶつかん

A2 noun #7,000 le plus courant 6 min de lecture

はくぶつかん

hakubutsukan Top 7,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces はくぶつかん en 30 secondes

Explication はくぶつかん in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'hakubutsukan' as a simple vocabulary word for 'museum.' You will likely use it in basic 'I go to...' sentences. Focus on the pronunciation: ha-ku-bu-tsu-ka-n. At this stage, you don't need to worry about the complex kanji; just recognizing the word in hiragana is enough. You might use it when talking about your hobbies or travel plans in the simplest terms. Think of it as a destination, like 'resutoran' (restaurant) or 'gakkō' (school). It is a basic building block for describing a city or a day out.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'hakubutsukan' with more descriptive particles and adjectives. You should be able to say things like 'The museum was big' (hakubutsukan wa ookikatta desu) or 'I went to the museum with a friend' (tomodachi to hakubutsukan ni ikimashita). You should also learn to distinguish it from 'bijutsukan' (art museum). You might start learning the kanji 博物館. You are expected to use this word in the context of past experiences, such as describing a vacation or a weekend activity during a basic conversation exchange.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'hakubutsukan' in complex sentences involving reasons and sequences. For example, 'Since I'm interested in history, I want to visit the national museum.' You will also encounter the word in more formal contexts, such as reading a short article about a city's attractions. You should understand related terms like 'tenji' (exhibit) and 'nyūjōryō' (entrance fee). At this level, you can discuss your opinions about a museum visit, explaining what you found interesting or boring using more varied vocabulary.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the B2 level, 'hakubutsukan' is used in academic or professional discussions about culture and education. You might read about the 'role of museums in society' (hakubutsukan no shakaiteki yakuwari). You should be able to understand nuances between 'hakubutsukan,' 'shiryōkan,' and 'kinenkan.' You can follow a guided tour in Japanese at a museum, understanding more technical explanations about the artifacts. Your ability to use the word extends to discussing museum policies, curation, or the impact of tourism on historical preservation.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C1 level, you are expected to use 'hakubutsukan' within the broader context of museology and cultural heritage management. You might discuss the ethics of displaying certain artifacts or the funding challenges faced by public museums. You should be familiar with formal compound words like 'hakubutsukangaku' (museology). In writing, you can produce sophisticated essays that evaluate the historical significance of specific museum collections. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its place in the Japanese 'Meiji era' modernization process.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of 'hakubutsukan' and its socio-political implications. You can engage in high-level debates about the repatriation of artifacts or the digital transformation of museum archives. You understand the most obscure references to museums in Japanese literature and can interpret the subtle differences in how 'hakubutsukan' is portrayed in different historical periods. You can lead professional seminars or write academic papers in Japanese regarding the philosophical underpinnings of museum curation and public engagement.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

はくぶつかん en 30 secondes

A building for historical and scientific artifacts.
Used for education, tourism, and cultural preservation.
Distinct from 'bijutsukan' (art museum) in Japanese.
Commonly seen in travel guides and school contexts.

The Japanese word はくぶつかん (博物館 - Hakubutsukan) refers to a museum, specifically an institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of historical, scientific, or cultural artifacts. While in English 'museum' is a broad term, in Japanese, the word is often used to distinguish between a general museum and a specialized art museum (美術館 - bijutsukan). Understanding はくぶつかん requires looking at its three kanji components: 博 (haku) meaning 'wide' or 'extensive,' 物 (butsu) meaning 'thing' or 'object,' and 館 (kan) meaning 'building' or 'hall.' Together, they literally describe a 'building for a wide variety of things.'

General Usage: Used when referring to history museums, natural history museums, or science centers. It is the standard term for any educational facility housing non-art collections.

東京国立はくぶつかんへ行きました。
(I went to the Tokyo National Museum.)

In Japanese society, はくぶつかん are viewed as essential pillars of education and public service. They are frequently the destination for school field trips (修学旅行 - shūgaku ryokō). When you use this word, you are implying a sense of learning, preservation, and historical significance. It is not just a place to look at things, but a place where 'wisdom of the past is stored for the future.' People use this word in travel planning, academic discussions, and casual weekend suggestions. If you are in Ueno, Tokyo, you are in the heart of Japan's museum district, where the term is seen on every signpost.

Etymological Nuance: The prefix 'haku' suggests a person of broad knowledge (hakushiki), emphasizing that these buildings are repositories of immense information.

Culturally, visiting a はくぶつかん is a common 'date' activity or a family outing on 'Culture Day' (Bunka no Hi), a national holiday in Japan. The term carries a formal yet accessible weight. It is neither overly academic nor purely for entertainment; it sits comfortably in the middle as a place for 'enlightenment through observation.'

Using はくぶつかん in a sentence follows standard Japanese noun patterns. Because it is a place, it is most frequently paired with particles like に (ni) to indicate destination, で (de) to indicate the location of an action, and を (wo) when it is the object of a verb like 'visit' or 'see.'

Pattern 1: Destination: [Place] + の + はくぶつかん + に + 行く (Go to the museum in [Place]).

週末に科学はくぶつかんに行きましょう。
(Let's go to the science museum this weekend.)

When describing what you do inside the museum, use the particle で. For example, 'I studied history at the museum' would be はくぶつかんで歴史を勉強しました. If you are talking about the existence of a museum, use the particle が with the verb あります (arimasu). For instance, この町には有名なはくぶつかんがあります (There is a famous museum in this town).

Pattern 2: Description: [Noun] + は + [Adjective] + はくぶつかん + です (This is a [Adjective] museum).

You can also use はくぶつかん as a modifier for other nouns. For example, はくぶつかんのチケット (museum ticket) or はくぶつかんの案内板 (museum information board). In compound words, you often see it as a suffix, such as 国立博物館 (Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan - National Museum) or 歴史博物館 (Rekishi Hakubutsukan - History Museum). When speaking, ensure the pitch accent is flat or slightly rising at the end, as is common with many 'kan' ending nouns.

In Japan, you will encounter the word はくぶつかん in several distinct environments. The most common is in the realm of tourism and transportation. If you are riding the Yamanote Line in Tokyo, you will hear announcements for Ueno Station mentioning the various はくぶつかん nearby. Tourist brochures and digital maps are also saturated with this term, often accompanied by the kanji 博物館.

次は、国立はくぶつかん前です。
(Next stop is in front of the National Museum.)

Another frequent setting is within the educational system. Teachers often tell students, 「来週ははくぶつかんへ行きます」 (Next week, we are going to the museum). In this context, it signals an upcoming day of out-of-classroom learning. On the news, you might hear about a 'special exhibition' (特別展 - tokubetsuten) being held at a はくぶつかん, often related to a major archaeological discovery or a visiting international collection.

Daily Conversation: When friends are discussing their weekend plans, one might say, 'Ame da kara, hakubutsukan ni demo ikou ka?' (Since it's raining, shall we go to a museum or something?). It is a go-to indoor activity.

Finally, in the digital age, social media posts (like Instagram or Twitter) tagged with #博物館 are incredibly popular in Japan, showcasing aesthetic displays of fossils, samurai armor, or traditional crafts. The word is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Japanese leisure and lifelong learning.

For English speakers, the most common mistake is using はくぶつかん as a catch-all term for any museum-like building, whereas Japanese is more specific. The primary confusion arises between はくぶつかん and びじゅつかん (美術館).

The Art Distinction: If you go to see paintings by Van Gogh or Hokusai, you are at a 美術館 (bijutsukan). If you say you are going to a 'hakubutsukan' to see paintings, a Japanese person will be confused or correct you.

❌ 絵を見にはくぶつかんへ行きます。
✅ 絵を見にびじゅつかんへ行きます。

Another common error is phonological. Students often mix up はくぶつかん (museum) with としょかん (library - 図書館). Both end in 'kan,' and both are quiet buildings where you learn, but their functions are entirely different. Mixing these up can lead to funny situations where you ask for a book at a museum or ask to see a dinosaur at a library.

Lastly, remember that はくぶつかん is a noun. Unlike in English where 'museum' can sometimes act like an adjective (e.g., museum piece), in Japanese, you must use the particle 'no' to link it to another noun: はくぶつかんの展示 (museum exhibit). Forgetting the 'no' is a grammatical slip-up common at the A2 level.

While はくぶつかん is the standard term, Japanese has several specific alternatives depending on what is being exhibited. Choosing the right one makes your Japanese sound much more natural and precise.

Comparison Table

美術館 (Bijutsukan): Specifically for art (paintings, sculptures).
資料館 (Shiryōkan): An archive or local history house, often smaller and focused on documents.
科学館 (Kagakukan): A science center or science museum.
記念館 (Kinenkan): A memorial hall dedicated to a specific person or event.

このしりょうかんには古い手紙があります。
(This archive/museum has old letters.)

If you are talking about the *act* of showing things rather than the building itself, you might use てんらんかい (展覧会 - exhibition) or はくらんかい (博覧会 - exposition/fair). The latter is where the first part of 'hakubutsukan' comes from. In casual conversation, you might simply say 'tenji' (展示) to refer to a specific display within the museum.

For modern, interactive spaces, you might encounter the katakana word ミュージアム (myūjiamu). This is often used for brand-specific or pop-culture museums, like the 'Ghibli Museum' (ジブリ美術館 - note they use bijutsukan here) or the 'Cup Noodle Museum' (カップヌードルミュージアム). 'Hakubutsukan' remains the word for more traditional, academic institutions.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

Before the word 'hakubutsukan' was standardized, various terms like 'mushitsukan' were considered, but 'hakubutsu' won because it sounded more academic.

Guide de prononciation

UK /hækʊbʊtsʊkæn/

US /hɑːkuːbuːtsuːkɑːn/

Japanese doesn't have stress like English. The pitch is generally flat (Heiban style), but in some dialects, it may drop after the 'kan'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

The kanji are complex but the word is common.

Écriture 4/5

Writing '博物館' requires many strokes.

Expression orale 2/5

Five syllables, easy to pronounce if taken slowly.

Écoute 2/5

Easy to recognize because of the distinct 'kan' ending.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

行く見る建物歴史古い

Apprends ensuite

美術館展示資料見学文化

Avancé

学芸員収蔵品考古学民俗学保存修復

Grammaire à connaître

Noun + に行く (Going to a place)

はくぶつかんに行きます。

Noun + で + Action (Doing something at a place)

はくぶつかんで勉強します。

Noun + の + Noun (Possession/Connection)

はくぶつかんの建物。

Noun + があります (Existence of an object/place)

はくぶつかんがあります。

Noun + は + Adjective + です (Describing a noun)

はくぶつかんは静かです。

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Exemples par niveau

はくぶつかんへ行きます。

I go to the museum.

Uses the destination particle 'he'.

これははくぶつかんですか？

Is this a museum?

Basic question structure with 'desu ka'.

はくぶつかんは大きいです。

The museum is big.

Adjective 'ookii' describing the noun.

あそこに、はくぶつかんがあります。

There is a museum over there.

Existence verb 'arimasu' for inanimate objects.

はくぶつかんが好きです。

I like museums.

Expression of preference with 'ga suki'.

きのう、はくぶつかんへ行きました。

Yesterday, I went to the museum.

Past tense of 'ikimasu' which is 'ikimashita'.

はくぶつかんはどこですか？

Where is the museum?

Question word 'doko' (where).

いっしょにはくぶつかんへ行きましょう。

Let's go to the museum together.

Volitional form 'mashou' (let's).

はくぶつかんで古い写真を見ました。

I saw old photos at the museum.

Particle 'de' indicates the location of an action.

このはくぶつかんは有名です。

This museum is famous.

Na-adjective 'yuumei' modifying the noun.

はくぶつかんのチケットはいくらですか？

How much is the museum ticket?

Particle 'no' connects two nouns.

あした、はくぶつかんへ行きたいです。

I want to go to the museum tomorrow.

Desire form 'tai desu'.

はくぶつかんは九時に開きます。

The museum opens at nine.

Time particle 'ni' and verb 'akimasu'.

日曜日は、はくぶつかんは休みです。

The museum is closed on Sundays.

Noun 'yasumi' used to mean 'closed' or 'holiday'.

はくぶつかんは静かでした。

The museum was quiet.

Past tense of na-adjective 'shizuka'.

はくぶつかんへ恐竜を見に行きました。

I went to the museum to see dinosaurs.

Purpose pattern 'verb stem + ni + iku'.

雨が降っていたので、はくぶつかんに行きました。

Since it was raining, I went to the museum.

Reasoning with 'node' (since/because).

はくぶつかんに展示されている刀は美しいです。

The swords exhibited in the museum are beautiful.

Passive form 'tenji sarete iru' as a noun modifier.

はくぶつかんのガイドツアーに参加しました。

I participated in a museum guided tour.

Verb 'sanka suru' (to participate).

そのはくぶつかんは、歴史について学ぶのに良い場所です。

That museum is a good place for learning about history.

Nominalizer 'no' used with 'ni' to express purpose.

はくぶつかんの中では、写真を撮ってはいけません。

You must not take photos inside the museum.

Prohibition pattern 'te wa ikemasen'.

はくぶつかんの入り口でパンフレットをもらいました。

I got a pamphlet at the museum entrance.

Verb 'morau' (to receive).

はくぶつかんは、子供から大人まで楽しめます。

The museum can be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults.

Range pattern 'A kara B made'.

新しいはくぶつかんが、来月オープンするそうです。

I heard that a new museum will open next month.

Hearsay pattern 'sou desu'.

このはくぶつかんは、地域の文化を保存するために設立されました。

This museum was established to preserve the local culture.

Purpose 'tame ni' and passive 'setsuritsu saremashita'.

はくぶつかんの収蔵品は、数万点に及びます。

The museum's collection reaches tens of thousands of items.

Formal verb 'oyobu' (to reach/extend to).

学芸員が、はくぶつかんの展示品について詳しく説明してくれました。

The curator explained the museum exhibits in detail for me.

Benefactive 'te kureta' and noun 'gakugeiin' (curator).

はくぶつかんを訪れることで、過去の生活を知ることができます。

By visiting the museum, you can learn about life in the past.

Method 'koto de' and potential 'koto ga dekiru'.

そのはくぶつかんは、月曜日が休館日となっています。

That museum is closed on Mondays (official policy).

Formal state 'to natte iru'.

はくぶつかんの建物自体が、歴史的な建造物です。

The museum building itself is a historical structure.

Emphasis word 'jitai' (itself).

はくぶつかんの運営には、多額の予算が必要です。

Managing a museum requires a large budget.

Noun 'un'ei' (management) and 'hitsuyou' (necessary).

はくぶつかんは、教育機関としての役割も果たしています。

The museum also plays a role as an educational institution.

Role 'toshite no' and 'yakuwari o hatasu' (play a role).

はくぶつかんの展示は、多角的な視点から構成されています。

The museum's exhibits are organized from multiple perspectives.

Adverbial 'takakuteki na shiten kara' (from multiple perspectives).

デジタル技術の導入により、はくぶつかんの体験が進化しています。

With the introduction of digital technology, the museum experience is evolving.

Cause 'ni yori' and continuous 'shinka shite iru'.

このはくぶつかんは、貴重な民俗資料の宝庫と言えます。

This museum can be called a treasure trove of valuable folk materials.

Assertion 'to iemasu'.

はくぶつかんの企画展は、常に高い人気を博しています。

The museum's special exhibitions are always highly popular.

Idiom 'ninki o haku suru' (to gain popularity).

はくぶつかんは、文化遺産の継承において不可欠な存在です。

Museums are an indispensable presence in the succession of cultural heritage.

Contextual 'ni oite' (in/regarding).

はくぶつかんの展示手法には、細心の注意が払われています。

Meticulous attention is paid to the display methods of the museum.

Passive idiom 'chuui ga harawarete iru'.

はくぶつかんを巡る議論は、所有権の問題にまで及んでいます。

Discussions surrounding museums extend even to the issue of ownership.

Surrounding 'o meguru' and extent 'ni made oyobu'.

はくぶつかんは、学術的研究の拠点としての機能も持っています。

The museum also functions as a base for academic research.

Function 'kinou' and 'kyoten' (base/hub).

はくぶつかんの存在意義は、単なる収集に留まらず、社会への還元にあります。

The significance of a museum's existence is not limited to mere collection, but lies in giving back to society.

Structure 'A ni todomarazu, B ni aru'.

植民地時代の略奪品をはくぶつかんが保持し続けることへの批判が高まっています。

Criticism is growing over museums continuing to hold looted goods from the colonial era.

Complex noun phrase with 'koto e no hihan'.

はくぶつかんのキュレーションは、歴史の再解釈を試みる場でもあります。

Museum curation is also a place for attempting the reinterpretation of history.

Abstract concept 'saikaishaku' (reinterpretation).

はくぶつかんは、ナショナル・アイデンティティの形成に深く関与してきました。

Museums have been deeply involved in the formation of national identity.

Involvement 'ni fukaku kanyo suru'.

静謐なはくぶつかんの空間は、思索を深めるのに適した環境を提供します。

The tranquil space of a museum provides an environment suitable for deepening one's contemplation.

Advanced vocabulary 'seihitsu' (tranquil) and 'shisaku' (contemplation).

はくぶつかんの展示物は、時空を超えた対話を我々に促します。

Museum exhibits urge us to engage in a dialogue that transcends time and space.

Metaphorical 'toki o koeta taiwa'.

はくぶつかんのアーカイブのデジタル化は、知識の民主化を加速させています。

The digitalization of museum archives is accelerating the democratization of knowledge.

Sociological term 'minshuka' (democratization).

はくぶつかんにおける展示の真正性は、常に考証の対象となります。

The authenticity of exhibits in museums is always subject to historical investigation.

Technical terms 'shinseisei' (authenticity) and 'koushou' (investigation).

Collocations courantes

博物館に行く

国立博物館

博物館の展示

博物館を見学する

歴史博物館

博物館の入り口

博物館のチケット

科学博物館

博物館を巡る

博物館の収蔵品

Phrases Courantes

はくぶつかんの案内

— Museum information or guidance. Used when looking for a map or brochure.

はくぶつかんの案内を読んでください。

はくぶつかんの売店

— Museum gift shop. A common place to buy souvenirs.

はくぶつかんの売店で絵葉書を買いました。

はくぶつかんの開館時間

— Museum opening hours. Vital for planning visits.

はくぶつかんの開館時間を調べます。

はくぶつかんの特別展

— A special exhibition at a museum. Often has a separate fee.

はくぶつかんの特別展を見に行きます。

はくぶつかんの常設展示

— The permanent exhibition of a museum.

はくぶつかんの常設展示は無料です。

はくぶつかん巡り

— Going on a museum-hopping tour.

今日は上野ではくぶつかん巡りをします。

はくぶつかんの音声ガイド

— Museum audio guide. Often available in multiple languages.

はくぶつかんの音声ガイドを借りました。

はくぶつかんの入館料

— Museum admission fee.

はくぶつかんの入館料はいくらですか？

はくぶつかんの休館日

— The day the museum is closed.

はくぶつかんの休館日は月曜日です。

はくぶつかんのパンフレット

— The museum pamphlet or brochure.

はくぶつかんのパンフレットをもらいました。

Souvent confondu avec

はくぶつかん vs 図書館 (Toshokan)

Both are buildings for learning, but Toshokan is for books.

はくぶつかん vs 美術館 (Bijutsukan)

Bijutsukan is specifically for art; Hakubutsukan is for history/science.

はくぶつかん vs 博覧会 (Hakurankai)

Hakurankai is a temporary fair/expo, not a permanent building.

Expressions idiomatiques

"生きている博物館"

— A 'living museum.' Refers to a place or person that perfectly preserves old ways of life.

この村は、生きている博物館のようです。

Metaphorical

"知識の博物館"

— A 'museum of knowledge.' Used to describe a person who knows everything about many topics.

彼はまるで知識の博物館だ。

Complimentary

"歴史の博物館を覗く"

— To 'peek into the museum of history.' Used when discovering something very old.

古い蔵を開けると、歴史の博物館を覗いた気分だった。

Literary

"博物館入り"

— To 'enter the museum.' Used when something becomes obsolete or historical.

この古いカメラも、そろそろ博物館入りだね。

Colloquial

"博物館の主"

— The 'master of the museum.' Often refers to a long-time curator or someone who knows every detail of a place.

彼はこの博物館の主のような存在だ。

Neutral

"沈黙の博物館"

— The 'museum of silence.' A poetic way to describe a very quiet, perhaps forgotten place.

夜の図書館は、沈黙の博物館のようだ。

Poetic

"はくぶつかんの顔"

— The 'face of the museum.' Refers to the most famous exhibit in the collection.

この恐竜は、うちのはくぶつかんの顔です。

Neutral

"時代を映す博物館"

— A museum that reflects the era. Used for collections that show contemporary life.

この展示は、昭和という時代を映す博物館だ。

Descriptive

"記憶の博物館"

— A 'museum of memories.' Used when talking about nostalgia or personal history.

祖母の家は、私にとって記憶の博物館です。

Emotional

"美の博物館"

— A 'museum of beauty.' Sometimes used for art museums but emphasizes the aesthetic quality.

この庭園は、自然が作った美の博物館だ。

Appreciative

Facile à confondre

はくぶつかん vs 美術館 (Bijutsukan)

Both are 'museums' in English.

Hakubutsukan is for history/science/artifacts. Bijutsukan is for art/paintings.

モナリザは美術館にあります。

はくぶつかん vs 資料館 (Shiryōkan)

Both house historical items.

Shiryōkan is usually smaller and focuses on documents/records.

郷土資料館で古い日記を読みました。

はくぶつかん vs 科学館 (Kagakukan)

It is a type of museum.

Kagakukan focuses on science and technology, often with interactive exhibits.

科学館でロボットを見ました。

はくぶつかん vs 水族館 (Suizokukan)

Ends in 'kan'.

Suizokukan is an aquarium for fish.

水族館でペンギンを見ました。

はくぶつかん vs 公民館 (Kōminkan)

Ends in 'kan'.

Kōminkan is a community center, not a museum.

公民館で会議をします。

Structures de phrases

[Place] にはくぶつかんがあります。

ここにはくぶつかんがあります。

はくぶつかんへ行きます。

あしたはくぶつかんへ行きます。

はくぶつかんで [Object] を見ました。

はくぶつかんで恐竜を見ました。

[Adjective] はくぶつかんです。

きれいなはくぶつかんです。

はくぶつかんに行くのが好きです。

一人ではくぶつかんに行くのが好きです。

はくぶつかんは [Time] に閉まります。

はくぶつかんは五時に閉まります。

はくぶつかんは歴史を保存するためにある。

はくぶつかんは文化を保存するためにある。

はくぶつかんの展示を通して [Concept] を学ぶ。

はくぶつかんの展示を通して平和を学ぶ。

Famille de mots

Noms

博学 (Hakugaku - Erudition)

物館 (Kan - Hall/Building)

博物館学 (Hakubutsukangaku - Museology)

Verbes

展示する (Tenji suru - To exhibit)

収蔵する (Shuuzou suru - To collect/store)

Adjectifs

博学な (Hakugaku na - Learned/Scholarly)

Apparenté

美術館

科学館

資料館

水族館 (Suizokukan - Aquarium)

動物園 (Doubutsuen - Zoo)

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour voir tous les exemples

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in education, tourism, and news.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'hakubutsukan' for an art gallery. → Use 'bijutsukan' (美術館).
Japanese distinguishes between general museums and art museums clearly.
Saying 'hakubukan'. → Say 'hakubutsukan'.
The 'tsu' is a necessary syllable and cannot be omitted.
Confusing 'hakubutsukan' with 'toshokan'. → Use 'toshokan' for library.
They both end in 'kan' and are educational, but functional different.
Forgetting the 'no' particle. → はくぶつかんのチケット (Hakubutsukan no chiketto).
You must link nouns with 'no' in Japanese.
Using 'hakubutsukan' for a temporary expo. → Use 'hakurankai' (博覧会).
'Hakubutsukan' refers to the permanent building and institution.

Astuces

Using the particle 'no'

Always link the museum to its specialty with 'no'. For example, 'rekishi no hakubutsukan' (history museum).

Ueno Park

If you want to see museums, go to Ueno Park in Tokyo. It has the highest concentration of them.

Quiet please

Museums in Japan are strictly quiet zones. Use the word 'shizuka' (quiet) to describe the atmosphere.

Kengaku

Use the word 'kengaku' (study visit) when talking about going to a museum to learn.

The 'Hall' Kanji

The kanji 館 (kan) is used for many buildings: toshokan, suizokukan, taikukan.

Wide Knowledge

The 'Haku' in hakubutsukan is the same 'Haku' in 'Hakushi' (Doctorate/PhD).

Discounts

Many museums offer discounts for students. Ask: 'Gakusei waribiki wa arimasu ka?'

Stamp Rallies

Many Japanese museums have 'stamp rallies.' Look for a stamp stand near the exit!

Pitch Accent

Try to keep your voice level. Don't stress any particular syllable too hard.

Announcements

Listen for 'Hakubutsukan-mae' which means 'In front of the museum' on buses.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Haku' (Hark!) as in 'Hark! Look at all these objects (butsu) in this hall (kan)!'

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant dinosaur (butsu) wearing a doctor's hat (haku) standing inside a big building (kan).

Word Web

History Science Artifacts Exhibition Curator Culture Ueno Education

Défi

Try to find three different 'hakubutsukan' on a map of Tokyo and say their names out loud.

Origine du mot

The word was coined during the Meiji period (late 19th century) to translate the Western concept of a 'museum.'

Sens originel : A hall for a wide variety of objects.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Contexte culturel

Be respectful of 'No Photography' signs, which are very common in Japanese museums.

Unlike the US where 'museum' includes art, Japanese people distinguish 'hakubutsukan' from 'bijutsukan' (art).

Tokyo National Museum (Ueno) Edo-Tokyo Museum National Museum of Nature and Science

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Planning a trip

有名なはくぶつかんはどこですか？
はくぶつかんの予約が必要ですか？
はくぶつかんへの行き方を教えてください。
はくぶつかんは今日開いていますか？

At the museum entrance

大人二枚、お願いします。
パンフレットはありますか？
写真は撮ってもいいですか？
ロッカーはどこですか？

Discussing hobbies

趣味ははくぶつかん巡りです。
歴史のはくぶつかんが好きです。
最近、面白いはくぶつかんに行きました。
週末はよくはくぶつかんに行きます。

School context

はくぶつかんでメモを取ります。
はくぶつかんの見学レポートを書きます。
先生とはくぶつかんへ行きます。
はくぶつかんのルールを守りましょう。

Giving directions

はくぶつかんの隣にあります。
はくぶつかんを右に曲がります。
はくぶつかんの向かい側です。
はくぶつかんの近くに駅があります。

Amorces de conversation

"最近、何か面白いはくぶつかんに行きましたか？ (Have you been to any interesting museums lately?)"

"一番好きなはくぶつかんはどこですか？ (Where is your favorite museum?)"

"はくぶつかんと美術館、どちらが好きですか？ (Which do you like better, museums or art galleries?)"

"子供の頃、はくぶつかんへよく行きましたか？ (Did you go to museums often when you were a child?)"

"この町には有名はくぶつかんがありますか？ (Is there a famous museum in this town?)"

Sujets d'écriture

今日行ったはくぶつかんについて書いてください。 (Write about the museum you went to today.)

あなたが将来、自分の「はくぶつかん」を作るとしたら、何を展示しますか？ (If you were to create your own museum in the future, what would you exhibit?)

はくぶつかんが社会にとって大切な理由は何だと思いますか？ (Why do you think museums are important for society?)

一番印象に残っているはくぶつかんの展示品は何ですか？ (What is the most memorable museum exhibit you've seen?)

はくぶつかんで学んだ歴史について説明してください。 (Explain the history you learned at a museum.)

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, it is a neutral noun. You can make it polite by adding 'desu' after it.

It's better to use 'bijutsukan' for art. 'Hakubutsukan' implies history or science.

It is 博物館. 博物 means 'natural history/broad things' and 館 means 'building'.

It is 国立博物館 (Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan).

It varies. National museums are usually around 600-1000 yen, but special exhibits cost more.

Not really. People usually say the full word, unlike 'toshokan' which is also full.

Yes, 'hakubutsukan' is five distinct sounds. Skipping the 'tsu' is a common mistake.

Most museums are closed on Mondays. If Monday is a holiday, they close on Tuesday.

Many people understand 'myūjiamu,' but 'hakubutsukan' is much more common.

No, a zoo is 'doubutsuen.' An aquarium is 'suizokukan'.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour les astuces et notes