Synonymy in Japanese

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There are many synonyms in Japanese because the Japanese language draws from several different languages for loanwords, notably Chinese and English, as well as its own native words. In Japanese, synonyms are called dōgigo (kanji: 同義語) or ruigigo (kanji: 類義語).{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.transparent.com/japanese/learning-synonyms-in-japanese/|title=Learning Synonyms in Japanese|access-date=2018-01-19}}

Full synonymy, however, is rare. In general, native Japanese words may have broader meanings than those that are borrowed, Sino-Japanese words tend to suggest a more formal tone, while Western borrowed words more modern.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2T1E9_HTrfkC&pg=PT61 |title= The Routledge Course in Japanese Translation|author=Yoko Hasegawa|chapter=2.1.3 Synonymy |date= 13 May 2013|publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781136640872 }}