Japanese word of the day: 番組 (Bangumi)

What does 番組 (Bangumi) mean?

番組 (Bangumi) (noun) – Program; show; broadcast. This word refers to any organized content on television or radio, like news, dramas, documentaries, variety shows, or even podcasts and streaming content.

Kanji details for 番組

Character: 番 — turn, number in a series
Radical: field 田

Character: 組 — association, braid, plait, construct, assemble, unite, cooperate, grapple
Radical: silk 糸 (糹)

Example sentences with 番組 (Bangumi)

• 今晩どんな番組がありますか。
  (Konban donna bangumi ga arimasu ka?)
  📺 What’s on TV this evening?

• 私の好きな番組は９時に始まる。
  (Watashi no suki na bangumi wa kuji ni hajimaru.)
  🕘 My favorite program starts at nine o’clock.

• 教養番組はよく見ますか？
  (Kyōyō bangumi wa yoku mimasu ka?)
  📚 Do you often watch educational programs?

番組 (Bangumi) in context

番組 is a word you’ll hear every day in Japan, especially if you watch TV, listen to the radio, or stream content online. It covers everything from news and sports to cooking shows, game shows, and documentaries. You’ll see it paired with other words to get more specific, like ニュース番組 (news program), 音楽番組 (music show), or 子供番組 (children’s show).

Originally, 番組 referred to the order and lineup of performances in traditional theater, but now it’s used almost exclusively for broadcast and streaming content. On a TV guide, each entry is a 番組. If you’re talking about your favorite show, a new series, or even a YouTube channel’s regular content, 番組 is the right word.