What Does Kanban Mean in English?
Kanban is a Japanese word that has become everyday English in offices and factories. Here is what it means, where it comes from and what a Kanban board looks like in plain English.
Quick answer: Kanban (看板) means “signboard” or “visual signal” in English. 看 (kan) means to look or see and 板 (ban) means board. In manufacturing a kanban is a card that signals what to produce or move; in knowledge work, a Kanban board shows tasks as cards in columns such as To Do, Doing and Done.
1. Key Takeaways
- Kanban in English means “signboard” or “visual signal”.
- 看 kan = look, see · 板 ban = board.
- In factories a kanban is a card that signals production or movement.
- In offices a Kanban board shows tasks in columns: To Do, Doing, Done.
- Related words: kaizen, gemba, muda, heijunka, jidoka.
2. Kanban Meaning in English
Kanban (看板) translates to “signboard” in English – literally a board you look at.
In Japan a kanban is still the sign above a shop. Toyota borrowed the word for the cards that signal when to make or move parts.
3. Kanban in English by Context
In English, “Kanban” can mean a sign, a production card, a board, a method or an app – depending on context.
4. A Kanban Board in English
In plain English, a Kanban board is a board with columns for each step of your work and cards for each task.
- Add a column for each step of the work – usually To Do, Doing and Done.
- Add a card for each task.
Make your first Kanban board
Colour-coded lists, cards with images, checklists and due dates – on Android, iPhone, tablet and desktop.
Free to use
5. How to Pronounce Kanban
In English, Kanban is usually pronounced “KAHN-bahn”, with equal stress in Japanese.
You will also hear “KAN-ban” with a short a. Both are understood. In written English it is usually capitalised when it refers to the method (“Kanban”) and lower case for a production card (“a kanban”).
6. Japanese Lean Terms in English
Kanban came into English with other Japanese lean terms such as kaizen, gemba, muda, heijunka and jidoka.
7. Kanban Board Examples in English
Here are three boards built in PlanBoards that explain Kanban in English.
Kanban – To Do, Doing, Done
The simplest Kanban board in English, with the 看板 card explaining the word.
Kanban glossary in English
Basics, Flow, Metrics and Lean Terms – each card is one Kanban word with its English meaning.
Japanese lessons – lean words
New Words, Practising and Learned – learning the Japanese behind the terms.
8. FAQ
These are the questions people ask about the meaning of Kanban in English.
What does Kanban mean in English?
“Signboard” or “visual signal”. 看 (kan) means look or see, and 板 (ban) means board.
Is Kanban a Japanese word?
Yes. It is an everyday Japanese word for a shop sign, adopted by Toyota for production cards.
What is a Kanban board in English?
A board with columns for each step of the work – usually To Do, Doing and Done – and a card for each task.
How do you pronounce Kanban?
Usually “KAHN-bahn” in English.
Is Kanban capitalised in English?
Usually yes when it refers to the method or a Kanban board; “a kanban” in lower case often means a single production card.
What is the plural of kanban?
Kanban – the word does not change in the plural, though “kanbans” is sometimes seen.
Can I make a Kanban board in English in PlanBoards?
Yes – name your columns in any language, free to use.
9. Sources and Further Reading
These are the sources behind this guide.
- Wikipedia: Kanban
- Wiktionary: 看板
- Lean Enterprise Institute. Kanban (lexicon).
- Wikipedia: Kaizen
Related pages: Features · SME & Projects · Sharing Cards
Look. Board. Done.
Android, iPhone, tablet and desktop.
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