~製

~せい

made in ~

JLPT N4

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The suffix ~製 (~せい) is attached to a country or place name to indicate that something is "made in" that location. It is commonly used in product descriptions to specify origin, such as 日本製 (made in Japan) or アメリカ製 (made in America).

Common Collocations

  • 日本製: Made in Japan, often associated with high quality.
  • 中国製: Made in China, frequently used in discussions about manufacturing.
  • ドイツ製: Made in Germany, often linked to precision engineering.

Usage Notes

This suffix is formal and neutral, suitable for written and spoken language. It is often used in product labels, advertisements, and conversations about product origin. When using ~製, the place name is usually in kanji or katakana, and the suffix is attached directly without spaces.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse ~製 with ~製品 (せいひん), which means "manufactured product." Remember that ~製 focuses on origin, while ~製品 refers to the product itself.

Summary

Use ~製 to clearly state where a product is made. It helps convey information about quality, origin, and sometimes brand reputation in everyday conversation and commercial contexts.

Example Sentences

このとけいはにほんせいです。

This watch is made in Japan.

アメリカせいのくるまはせいのうがよいです。

Cars made in America have good performance.

このカメラはちゅうごくせいですが、ひんしつはわるくないです。

This camera is made in China, but the quality is not bad.