Translation and Meaning of: 等 - tou
The Japanese word 等[とう] is a versatile term that appears in various contexts, from everyday conversations to formal documents. If you are studying Japanese or simply curious about the language, understanding the meaning, origin, and usage of this word can be quite helpful. In this article, we will explore how it is used, its most common translation, and some cultural particularities that surround it.
In addition to being a common word in daily life, 等[とう] plays an important role in the grammatical structure of Japanese, often functioning as a suffix or part of compound expressions. If you have encountered it in texts or animes, you probably noticed that its meaning can vary depending on the context. Let's uncover these details below.
Meaning and usage of 等 [とう]
The term 等[とう] can be translated as "and others," "among others," or "etc.," depending on the situation. It is often used to indicate that there are more items or people in a list beyond those mentioned. For example, in phrases like "リンゴ、バナナ等" (apples, bananas, etc.), it simplifies enumeration, avoiding unnecessary repetitions.
In addition, 等[とう] can also appear in more formal contexts, such as in documents or speeches, where its function is similar to that of "among others." It is worth noting that, although it is a common term, its excessive use in written texts can sound unprofessional, so it is important to balance its use appropriately.
Origin and writing of the kanji 等
The kanji 等 is composed of the radical for bamboo (竹) and the component 寺, which was originally associated with temples. This combination suggests an idea of "grouping" or "classifying," which makes sense considering its current use for lists and categorization. The reading とう is one of the many that this character can assume, also being read as "hito(shi)" in other contexts.
Interestingly, the kanji 等 is not exclusive to Japanese – it also exists in Chinese, with a similar meaning. However, its pronunciation and application may vary between the two languages. This connection between the languages shows how kanji characters often carry shared histories, even though their usages have evolved in different ways.
Tips for memorizing and using 等 [とう]
An effective way to reinforce the meaning of 等[とう] is to associate it with everyday situations where lists are common, such as shopping or tasks. For example, when making a grocery list in Japanese, try adding 等 at the end to practice. Repeating this exercise in real contexts helps to internalize the vocabulary naturally.
Another tip is to pay attention to the use of 等[とう] in animes, dramas, or Japanese news. It often appears in dialogues or subtitles, especially when characters list objects or ideas. Observing these occurrences not only reinforces memorization but also shows how the word is applied in different speech s.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 等しい (hitoshii) - Equal; similar.
- 同等 (doutou) - Of equal value or degree; equivalent.
- 平等 (byoudou) - Equality; without discrimination among individuals.
- 等しく (hitoshiku) - In the same way; likewise.
- 均等 (kintou) - Balanced distribution; equality in distribution.
- 等差数列 (tousasuuretsu) - Arithmetic sequence; a sequence of numbers with a constant difference.
Related words
Romaji: tou
Kana: とう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3, jlpt-n5
Translation / Meaning: et cetera; etc .; and similar
Meaning in English: et cetera;etc.;and the like
Definition: Similarly, be equivalent.
Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (等) tou
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (等) tou:
Example Sentences - (等) tou
See below some example sentences:
Kōtō kyōiku wa jūyō desu
Higher education is important.
Higher education is important.
- 高等教育 - higher education
- は - Topic particle
- 重要 - important
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Watashi no tōkyū wa takai desu
My level is high.
My grade is high.
- 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
- の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
- 等級 - noun that means "classification" or "level"
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about"
- 高い - adjective that means "high" or "elevated"
- です - verb to be in polite form, equivalent to "is"
Seikaku wa shihen ga hitoshii shikakkei desu
A square is a quadrilateral with four equal sides.
The square is a square with four equal sides.
- 正方形 - It means "square" in Japanese.
- は - topic particle in Japanese.
- 四辺 - It means "four sides" in Japanese.
- が - subject particle in Japanese.
- 等しい - It means "equal" in Japanese.
- 四角形 - means "quadrilateral" in Japanese.
- です - The verb "to be" in Japanese in the polite form.
Kono chiiki no jinkou bunpu wa kintou de wa arimasen
The population distribution in this region is not uniform.
The population distribution in this area is not equal.
- この - Japanese word meaning "this"
- 地域 - Japanese word meaning "region"
- の - Japanese particle indicating possession or belonging
- 人口 - Japanese word meaning "population"
- 分布 - Japanese word meaning "distribution"
- は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
- 均等 - Japanese word meaning "uniform" or "the same"
- で - Japanese particle indicating the means or method
- は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
- ありません - Japanese verb meaning "does not exist" or "is not"
Joutou na hinshitsu no seihin wo teikyou shimasu
We provide superior quality products.
Provides high quality products.
- 上等な - superior
- 品質 - quality
- の - of
- 製品 - product
- を - direct object
- 提供します - will provide
Futatsu no mono ga hitoshii desu
The two objects are the same.
Two things are the same.
- 二つの物 - means "two objects" in Japanese.
- が - subject particle in Japanese.
- 等しい - It means "equal" in Japanese.
- です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate the existence or state of something.
Ningen wa minna byoudou de aru
All human beings are the same.
All humans are flat.
- 人間 - "human being" in Japanese.
- は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
- 皆 - means "everyone" or "everybody" in Japanese.
- 平等 - It means "equality" in Japanese.
- である - It is a formal way to say "is" or "are" in Japanese.
Subete no hito ni byoudou na kikai wo ataeru beki da
Everyone must have equal opportunities.
You must give everyone an equal opportunity.
- 全ての人に - All individuals
- 平等な - equality
- 機会を - Opportunities
- 与える - It must be given
- べきだ - It must be done
Dōtō no atsukai o ukeru kenri ga aru
Everyone has the right to receive equal treatment.
There is a right to be treated equally.
- 同等の - means "equal" or "equivalent".
- 扱い - means "treatment" or "way of dealing with something or someone".
- を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
- 受ける - verb meaning "to receive".
- 権利 - means "right" or "privilege".
- が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
- ある - Verb that means "to exist" or "to have".
Taitou na kankei wo kizuku koto ga taisetsu desu
It is important to build a relationship of equality.
It is important to build equal relationships.
- 対等な - means "equal" or "equivalent".
- 関係 - means "relation" or "connection".
- を - Particle that indicates the object of the action.
- 築く - means "to build" or "to establish".
- こと - noun that indicates an action or event.
- が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
- 大切 - It means "important" or "valuable".
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form.
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
