The Meaning of meibutsu [名物] In Japanese

名物
めいぶつ
Romaji: meibutsu N4

What does 名物 mean?

Translation and Meaning

famous thing, local specialty, famous product

Definition

名物 means a local specialty or famous product associated with a place; items such as foods or crafts that a city or region is renowned for, often used to attract visitors or customers.

Type

Noun (名物)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Regional specialty or famous product of a place, especially foods or crafts.
  • Used in marketing and tourism to highlight what a place is best known for.
  • Often appears in fixed phrases such as 名物料理 or 名物として紹介される to indicate a signature item.

Etymology

名 (mei) + 物 (butsu), together read meibutsu; the pronunciation uses on’yomi for both kanji, forming a stable compound in modern Japanese.

Origin

The concept likely emerged in the Edo period as a label for notable regional products and dishes, later spreading across Japan to refer to any place’s celebrated items. It is now a common term in marketing, tourism, and everyday speech.

Composition

  • 名: fame, name; 物: thing; combined they mean a thing known for its fame

Usage

Used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to a place’s standout products; commonly appears in menus as 名物料理, in travel writing and brochures, and in shop signage, often with a place name to denote provenance.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: name (fame) + thing equals fame; picture a place sign with 名 above a shining 物, signaling the famous thing that defines the area.

Variations

  • 名産 (めいさん) meisan — regional product or produce; emphasizes local origin
  • 特産 (とくさん) tokusan — regional specialty; highlights uniqueness
  • 名物料理 (めいぶつりょうり) meibutsu-ryouri — signature dish

Example Phrases

  • この店の「名物」はラーメンで、いつも賑わう。
    Kono mise no meibutsu wa ramen de, itsumo nigiwau.
    This shop’s specialty is ramen, and it’s always bustling.
    Lista:
    • この (kono) – this
    • 店 (mise) – shop
    • の (no) – of
    • 「名物」 (meibutsu) – local specialty
    • は (wa) – (topic marker)
    • ラーメン (ramen) – ramen
    • で (de) – by/with (connector)
    • いつも (itsumo) – always
    • 賑わう (nigiwau) – to be bustling
    名物 means ‘local specialty’; here it marks the shop’s main product using の to connect to the shop, and the topic marker は introduces what the 名物 is.
名物