Meaning

Primary

Reception

Alternatives

Radio Wave, Electromagnetic Wave

Word Type

noun

Explanation

The electricity wave is a wave of electricity going through the air. There are many words you can use to describe this, but the easiest one is reception (like the reception on your phone, for example).

Other more technical meanings are radio wave and electromagnetic waves. Which one you like is up to you, but reception is going to be the most common meaning on the street. Luckily people in Japan don't have AT&T, otherwise you'd hear this word a lot more…

Reading

でんぱ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well. The from rendakus to , so be careful. Maybe it's your pa who has bad reception every time you try to call him?

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 電波が入る

    to have reception

    電波がいい

    good reception

    電波がわるい

    bad reception

Context Sentences

ここに立つとWi-Fiの電波がよく入りますよ。

If you stand over here, you will get good Wi-Fi signal.

母は電波が心配で電子レンジを使わない。

My mother is worried about radio waves and does not use the microwave.

ごめん、よく聞こえないよ。ここは電波が悪いみたい。

Sorry, you sound kind of choppy. It seems like I’ve got bad reception here.

Kanji Composition