Want to talk about what your city, country, or even your favorite anime character is known for? In Japanese, there’s a simple and useful way to express what someone or something is famous for. You’ll hear it in travel shows, everyday conversations, and even interviews. The grammar is based on the word 有名（ゆうめい）, which means “famous.” In this article, we’ll go over how to say “X is famous for Y” using で有名です, and how to use it with nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
で有名です
Is Famous for
JLPT Level: N4
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How to Use It
To say someone or something is famous for something in Japanese, use the pattern X は Y で 有名です. If Y is a noun, just place it before で有名です. If Y is a verb or an い-adjective, you’ll need to use the nominalizer こと to turn it into a noun-like phrase. For な-adjectives, drop the な and add で有名です. This structure is often used to describe places, people, or things that are well known for a specific reason.
Usage Pattern
Xは+ Yで +有名です(X is famous for Y)
Example 1
日本はアニメで有名です。
にほん は あにめ で ゆうめい です。
Nihon wa anime de yūmei desu.
Japan is famous for anime.
Example 2
京都はお寺と神社で有名です。
きょうと は おてら と じんじゃ で ゆうめい です。
Kyōto wa otera to jinja de yūmei desu.
Kyoto is famous for temples and shrines.
Example 3
この町は温泉があることで有名です。
この まち は おんせん が ある こと で ゆうめい です。
Kono machi wa onsen ga aru koto de yūmei desu.
This town is famous for having hot springs.
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