Meaning and Usage
"展覧会" (てんらんかい) means "exhibition" or "display event," typically referring to art exhibitions, trade shows, or other public displays of works or products. It is a noun commonly used in formal and everyday contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "展覧会" when talking about art galleries, museums, or events where artworks, crafts, or products are shown to the public. It can refer to both temporary and permanent exhibitions.
Collocations and Patterns
- 展覧会を開く (てんらんかいをひらく): to hold an exhibition
- 展覧会に行く (てんらんかいにいく): to go to an exhibition
- 展覧会に出す (てんらんかいにだす): to exhibit (one's work) at an exhibition
Usage Notes
When using "展覧会," the focus is on the event itself where items are displayed. It is more formal than simply saying "見せる" (to show) and is often used in cultural or professional contexts. Learners sometimes confuse "展覧会" with "展示" (てんじ), which means "display" or "exhibit" but is more general and can refer to the act of displaying rather than the event.
Register
"展覧会" is neutral to formal and appropriate in both spoken and written Japanese, especially in contexts related to art, culture, and business events.