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VocabJLPT N1

harem

NounPlace

Definitions

1. harem
2. Harlem
3. Harem

This katakana word, borrowed from English, refers to a harem — historically, a private living space reserved for women in certain cultures, particularly in the Ottoman empire. In modern Japanese, it is also commonly used in manga and anime to describe a situation where one character is surrounded by many romantic interests.

Example sentences

Sentence 1

Isn't the harem route in that novel moving a bit fast?

Sentence 2

She laughed and asked, "What, are you trying to build a harem?"

Sentence 3

That sales approach — keeping customers hanging around you like a harem — makes me uncomfortable.

Sentence 4

He joked, "My place is basically a harem."

Sentence 5

According to the report, a preservation plan for the harem site has been approved.