The Meaning of tenrankai [展覧会] In Japanese

展覧会
てんらんかい
Romaji: tenrankai N3

What does 展覧会 mean?

Translation and Meaning

exhibition, display, show

Definition

展覧会 means an organized public display of artworks or items intended for viewing by the public. It refers to a formal event, often curated and hosted by museums, galleries, or cultural institutions, where works or artifacts are presented for public inspection and appreciation.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • In museum or gallery contexts, referring to curated displays of art, artifacts, or scientific specimens.
  • Used for trade or educational events such as science expositions or public showcases of collections, often with catalogs and guided tours.
  • Used in set phrases such as 展覧会を開催する and 展覧会場, highlighting the event’s organization and venue.

Etymology

由来 漢字展覧会 is formed from 展覧 (display, viewing) and 会 (gathering, event). The reading tenrankai combines on’yomi for 展 (ten) and 覧 (ran) with 会 giving kai, creating a Sino-Japanese compound used to denote a public exhibition. It is not borrowed from another language but a native formation that became standard in modern usage.

Origin

Meiji period (late 19th century): the emergence of modern museums and formal public exhibitions popularized the term 展覧会 as the standard label for public displays.

Composition

  • 展: unfold, display, extend
  • 覧: look, view
  • 会: gathering, event
The combination conveys a public event designed to display and be viewed by an audience.

Usage

Used in formal contexts to refer to organized public exhibitions; common in museum notices, catalogs, press releases, and event calendars; typically used with verbs like 開催する and 行く; example phrases in Japanese include 美術館で展覧会を開催する; 展覧会へ行く.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a curtain (展) opening to reveal the eyes (覧) of a crowd (会) — a stage where things are unfolded for viewing by the public.

Variations

  • 展示会 (tenjikai) — general exhibition or display event
  • 美術展 (bijutsuten) — art exhibition
  • 博覧会 (hakurankai) — expo, fair

Example Phrases

  • 週末、近所の展覧会を友達と一緒に見に行く予定だ。
    Shūmatsu, kinjo no tenrankai o tomodachi to issho ni mi ni iku yotei da.
    I’m planning to go see a nearby exhibition with my friend this weekend.
    Lista:
    • 週末 (shūmatsu) – weekend
    • 近所 (kinjo) – nearby
    • の (no) – of
    • 展覧会 (tenrankai) – exhibition
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 友達 (tomodachi) – friend
    • と (to) – with
    • 一緒に (issho ni) – together
    • 見に行く (mi ni iku) – to go see
    • 予定だ (yotei da) – it’s planned
    「展覧会」は名詞で、文中では見に行く対象を表す。
展覧会