191 Japanese Meals Phrases To Spark Your Studying and Urge for food
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Meals is a vital a part of life, and one of the best ways to study Japanese is to make use of it in on a regular basis conditions. So whether or not you’re buying on the grocery store, choosing up treats at a restaurant, or experiencing conventional Japanese dishes, you’ll have many alternatives to make use of these Japanese meals phrases!
Primary tabemono (meals) in Japanese
By way of commerce, many meals have change into frequent around the globe, together with in Japan, and a few meals names that originated in different international locations have since changed into Japanese loanwords. The variations in Japanese meals phrases typically reveal Japan’s distinctive meals tradition.
Kudamono (fruit) in Japanese
Excessive-quality fruit is prized in Japan and is a standard housewarming reward. You can too discover fruits hardly ever seen within the West, akin to yuzu—a citrus fruit that resembles a cross between an orange and a lemon.
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
りんご | ringo | reen-goh | apple |
苺 | ichigo | ee-chee-goh | strawberry |
オレンジ | orenji | oh-rehn-jee | orange |
みかん | mikan | mee-kahn | Japanese mandarin |
柚子 | yuzu | yoo-zoo | yuzu (citrus fruit) |
レモン | remon | reh-mohn | lemon |
グレープフルーツ | gurēpufurūtsu | goo-reh-poo foo-roo-tsoo | grapefruit |
バナナ | banana | BAH-nah-nah | banana |
西瓜 | suika | soo-ee-kah | watermelon |
柿 | kaki | kah-kee | Japanese persimmon |
桃 | momo | moh-moh | peach |
梅 | ume | oo-meh | plum |
梅干し | umeboshi | oo-meh-boh-shee | pickled plum |
さくらんぼ | sakuranbo | sah-koo-rahn-boh | cherry |
ブルーベリー | burūberī | boo-ROO-beh-ree | blueberries |
ぶどう | budō | boo-dohh | grapes |
マスカット | masukatto | mah-soo-kah-TOH | muscat grapes (massive, inexperienced grapes) |
パインアップル/パイン | painappuru/ache | pye-een-ah-POO-roo/pye-een | pineapple |
マンゴ | mango | mahn-goh | mango |
Yasai (greens) in Japanese
One of many ideas of conventional Japanese meals is a steadiness of dishes and sides referred to as ichijū sansai (一汁三菜). A typical meal will embody a serving of nutritious greens.
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
人参 | ninjin | neen-jeen | carrot |
ブロッコリー | burokkorī | boo-roh-koh-ree | broccoli |
キャベツ | kyabetsu | kyah-beh-tsoo | cabbage |
ほうれん草 | hōrensō | hohh-rehn-sohh | spinach |
トマト | tomato | TOH-mah-toh | tomato |
ピーマン | pīman | pee-mahn | inexperienced bell pepper |
パプリカ | papurika | pah-poo-ree-kah | crimson bell pepper |
きゅうり | kyūri | kyoo-ree | cucumber |
大根 | daikon | dye-kohn | daikon radish (massive, white radish) |
ねぎ | negi | neh-ghee | inexperienced onion |
じゃがいも | jagaimo | jah-gye-moh | potato |
さつまいも | satsumaimo | sah-tsoo-mye-moh | candy potato |
茄子 | nasu | nah-soo | eggplant |
かぼちゃ | kabocha | kah-boh-chah | pumpkin |
コーン | kōn | kohn | corn |
豆 | mame | mah-meh | beans |
納豆 | nattō | nah-TOH | fermented soy beans |
茸 | kinoko | kee-noh-koh | mushrooms |
わかめ | wakame | wah-kah-may | edible kelp |
のり | nori | noh-ree | dried seaweed |
漬物 | tsukemono | tsoo-keh-moh-noh | pickled greens |
生姜 | shōga | shohh-gah | ginger |
にんにく | ninniku | neen-nee-koo | garlic |
パクチー | pakuchī | pah-koo-chee | cilantro |
Niku (meat) and kaisen (seafood) in Japanese
Have you ever heard of Japan’s scrumptious wagyū (和牛)? The gyū comes from gyūniku (牛肉), which is actually “cow meat.” As Japan is the nation of sushi, naturally it additionally has loads of superb seafood!
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
牛肉 | gyūniku | gyoo-nee-koo | beef |
ステーキ | sutēki | soo-teh-kee | steak |
チキン | chikin | chee-keen | rooster |
豚肉 | butaniku | boo-tah-nee-koo | pork |
ソーセージ | sōsēji | soh-seh-jee | sausage |
ベーコン | bēkon | behh-kohn | bacon |
羊肉 | yōniku | yohh-nee-koo | lamb |
魚 | sakana | sah-kah-nah | fish |
刺身 | sashimi | sah-shee-mee | sashimi (uncooked sliced fish) |
鮪 | maguro | mah-goo-roh | tuna |
サーモン | sāmon | sahh-mohn | salmon (sometimes served uncooked) |
鮭 | sake | sah-keh | chum salmon (sometimes cooked) |
ウナギ | unagi | oo-nah-ghee | eel |
海老 | ebi | eh-bee | shrimp |
蟹 | kani | kah-nee | crab |
イカ | ika | ee-kah | squid |
タコ | tako | tah-koh | octopus |
イクラ | ikura | ee-koo-rah | salmon roe |
Kokumotsu (grains) and different fundamentals for cooking in Japanese
Most Japanese meals embody a grain product akin to rice or noodles. Should you’ve been to a Japanese bakery, the prime quality of their pan (パン), which is the Japanese phrase for bread.
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
ご飯 | gohan | goh-hahn | cooked rice (or meal) |
米 | kome | koh-may | raw rice |
麺 | males | mehn | noodles |
小麦粉 | komugiko | koh-moo-ghee-koh | wheat flour |
パン | pan | pahn | bread |
食パン | shoku pan | shoh-koo pahn | loaf of bread/sliced bread |
卵 | tamago | tah-mah-goh | egg |
砂糖 | satō | sah-tohh | sugar |
塩 | shio | shee-oh | salt |
胡椒 | koshō | koh-shohh | pepper |
バター | batā | bahh-tahh | butter |
油 | abura | ah-boo-rah | oil |
醤油 | shōyu | shohh-yoo | soy sauce |
酢 | su | soo | vinegar |
出汁 | dashi | dah-shee | soup inventory |
味醂 | mirin | mee-reen | candy rice wine for cooking |
Okashi (snacks and sweets) in Japanese
Each conventional Japanese-style and Western-style snacks are vastly standard in Japan. Anko (あんこ; crimson bean paste) and mochi (餅; glutinous rice desserts) are staples of conventional Japanese sweets referred to as wagashi (和菓子).
The Japanese phrases for snacks and sweets are generally shortened, much like a nickname. For instance, chocolate might be referred to as chokorēto or choko. And ice cream in Japanese is aisukurīmu or aisu.
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
ポテトチップス/ポテチ | poteto chippusu/potechi | POH-tay-toh chee-poo-soo/POH-tay-chee | potato chips |
せんべい | senbei | sehn-bay | rice cracker |
栗 | kuri | koo-ree | chestnut |
クッキー | kukkī | koo-kee | cookie |
チョコレート/チョコ | chokorēto/choko | choh-koh-ray-toh/choh-koh | chocolate |
飴 | ame | ah-may | sweet |
金平糖 | konpeitō | kohn-pay-toh | star-shaped sugar sweet |
ケーキ | kēki | kay-kee | cake |
カステラ | kasutera | kah-soo-teh-rah | Japanese sponge cake |
パンケーキ | pankēki | pahn-kay-kee | pancake |
クレープ | kurēpu | koo-rehh-poo | crepe |
ドーナツ | dōnatsu | dohh-nah-tsoo | donut |
アイスクリーム/アイス | aisu kurīmu/aisu | aye-soo koo-ree-moo/aye-soo | ice cream |
パフェ | pafe | pah-fay | dessert much like an ice cream sundae |
かき氷 | kakigōri | kah-kee-gohh-ree | shaved ice |
アイスキャンディー | aisu kyandī | aye-soo kyahn-dee | popsicle |
プリン | purin | poo-reen | pudding (much like flan) |
餡子 | anko | ahn-koh | candy crimson bean paste |
胡麻 | goma | goh-mah | sesame seeds |
餅 | mochi | moh-chee | glutinous rice cake |
大福 | daifuku | dye-foo-koo | mochi with filling |
団子 | dango | dahn-goh | rice flour dumpling (often candy) |
シュークリーム | shūkurīmu | shoo koo-ree-moo | cream puff |
たい焼き | taiyaki | tye-yah-kee | fish-shaped pastry with filling |
Nomimono (drinks) in Japanese
Japan is well-known for the numerous jihanki (自販機; merchandising machines) scattered all through the nation. They not solely carry drinks, however it’s also possible to discover machines with ice cream, prompt meals, and extra.
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
水 | mizu | mee-zoo | water |
氷 | kōri | kohh-ree | ice |
牛乳 | gyūnyū | gyoo-nyoo | milk (from a cow) |
豆乳 | tōnyū | tohh-nyoo | soy milk |
お茶 | o-cha | oh-chah | tea (particularly inexperienced tea) |
抹茶 | maccha | mah-CHAH | powdered inexperienced tea |
紅茶 | kōcha | kohh-chah | black tea |
麦茶 | mugi cha | moo-ghee chah | barley tea |
ウーロン茶 | ūron cha | oo-rohn chah | oolong tea |
タピオカ | tapioka | tah-pee-oh-kah | boba/bubble tea |
コーヒー | kōhī | kohh-hee | espresso |
カフェオレ | kafe ore | kah-feh oh-ray | café au lait (espresso with milk) |
ホットココア | hotto kokoa | hoh-TOH koh-koh-ah | scorching cocoa |
ジュース | jūsu | joo-soo | juice |
コーラ | kōra | kohh-rah | Coca-cola |
サイダー | saidā | sye-dah | gentle soda |
ジンジャーエール | jinjā ēru | jeen-jah ehh-roo | ginger ale |
お酒 | o-sake | oh-sah-keh | alcohol |
日本酒 | nihon shu | nee-hohn-shoo | rice wine |
焼酎 | shōchū | shohh-choo | Japanese distilled alcohol (much like Korean soju) |
サワー | sawā | sah-wahh | cocktail with spirits, often blended with fruit juice |
ビール | bīru | bee-roo | beer |
ワイン | wain | wah-een | wine |
Forms of ryōri (cuisines) in Japan
Japanese conventional meals, or washoku (和食), has an in depth historical past, throughout which cooks examined and perfected their recipes.
Japan has additionally change into dwelling for folks from all around the world, with immigrants bringing their very own tasty cuisines. The commonest international cuisines in Japan are Chinese language meals and Western meals.
Washoku (Japanese meals)
Whenever you go to Japan, you need to strive washoku! Meals is a window into one other tradition, akin to the numerous kinds of noodles in Japanese tradition. An effective way to get a pattern of a number of dishes is to have a multi-course kaiseki (会席) meal.
You’ll see yaki (焼き) within the names of many dishes. The verb yakimasu (焼きます) can describe varied cooking strategies, and mostly means “stir-fry” or “grill.”
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
寿司 | sushi | soo-shee | sushi, particularly within the nigiri type |
回転寿司 | kaiten zushi | kye-tehn zoo-shee | conveyor-belt sushi |
うどん | udon | oo-dohn | thick wheat flour noodles |
そば | soba | soh-bah | buckwheat noodles |
焼きそば | yakisoba | yah-kee-soh-bah | stir-fried noodles |
素麺 | sōmen | sohh-mehn | skinny wheat noodles, typically served chilly |
丼 | donburi | dohn-boo-ree | kind of dish with a bowl of rice as a base |
牛丼 | gyūdon | gyoo-dohn | donburi with beef and onions |
親子丼 | oyakodon | oh-yah-koh-dohn | donburi with blended rooster and egg |
カツ丼 | katsudon | kah-tsoo-dohn | donburi with pork cutlet and egg |
焼肉 | yakiniku | yah-kee-nee-koo | Japanese-style barbecue |
焼き鳥 | yah-kee-toh-ree | yah-kee-toh-ree | grilled rooster skewers |
お好み焼き | okonomiyaki | oh-koh-noh-mee-yah-kee | a savory pancake with batter, cabbage, and different substances |
タコ焼き | takoyaki | tah-koh-yah-kee | dough fried in a ball with octopus inside |
天ぷら | tenpura | tehn-poo-rah | deep-fried shrimp or greens |
おにぎり | onigiri | oh-nee-ghee-ree | rice ball with fillings, often triangular |
卵焼き | tamagoyaki | tah-mah-goh-yah-kee | candy omelet created from rolling a sheet of egg |
味噌汁 | miso shiru | mee-soh shee-roo | miso soup |
鍋物 | nabe mono | nah-bay moh-noh | Japanese hotpot dish |
しゃぶしゃぶ | shabushabu | shah-boo shah-boo | a nabemono the place slices of meat are rapidly cooked in broth |
おでん | oden | oh-dehn | a nabemono the place fish desserts are simmered in a lightweight broth |
すき焼き | sukiyaki | soo-kee-yah-kee | a nabemono the place meat and greens are simmered in wealthy broth |
肉じゃが | nikujaga | nee-koo-jah-gah | simmered meat and potatoes |
Chūka ryōri (Chinese language meals)
Japanese tradition has been influenced by Chinese language tradition for over a thousand years, so it’s no shock that Japan has so many Chinese language-inspired meals. The Japanese avenue meals karaage and nikuman originate in China. And even rāmen is assessed as chūka ryōri!
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English/Description |
豆腐 | tōfu | tohh-foo | tofu |
麻婆豆腐 | mābō dōfu | mahh-bohh dohh-foo | a tofu dish with spicy sauce and floor meat |
ラーメン | rāmen | rahh-mehn | excessive gluten flour noodles in broth, often has chāshū |
チャーシュー | chāshū | chah-shoo | braised pork stomach |
担々麵 | tantan males | tahn-tahn mehn | kind of rāmen with spicy broth and floor meat |
唐揚げ | karaage | kah-rah-ah-age | boneless fried rooster |
ギョーザ | gyōza | gyohh-zah | pan-fried dumplings |
小籠包 | shōronpō | shohh-rohn-poh | soup dumplings |
春巻き | harumaki | hah-roo-mah-kee | spring roll |
中華まん | chūka man | choo-kah mahn | fluffy steamed buns that may have completely different fillings |
肉まん | niku man | nee-koo mahn | fluffy steamed buns with pork |
チャーハン | chāhan | chahh-han | fried rice |
エビチリ | ebi chiri | eh-bee chee-ree | shrimp with chili sauce |
火鍋 | hinabe | hee-nah-bay | Chinese language hotpot |
Yōshoku (Western meals)
Japan provides a formidable array of meals from many Western international locations. So if you happen to crave one thing from again dwelling, perhaps yow will discover it in Japan! Simply take care that the Japanese pronunciation is completely different from the unique pronunciation. The Japanese meals phrases might even sound like one thing else; for instance, poteto (ポテト) means “French fries” and sando (サンド) means “sandwich.”
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English/Description |
パスタ | pasuta | pah-soo-tah | pasta |
カルボナーラ | karubonāra | kah-roo-boh-nah-rah | carbonara (creamy pasta with cheese and pepper) |
ピザ | piza | PEE-zah | pizza |
チーズ | chīzu | chee-zoo | cheese |
ドリア | doria | doh-ree-ah | much like risotto with white rice, topped with melted cheese |
コロッケ | korokke | koh-roh-KAY | deep-fried mashed potatoes, based mostly on French croquettes |
ハンバーガー | hanbāgā | hahn-bahh-gahh | hamburger |
ホットドッグ | hotto doggu | hoh-toh doh-goo | scorching canine |
アメリカンドッグ | amerikan doggu | ah-meh-ree-kahn doh-goo | corn canine |
フライドチキン | furaido chikin | foo-rye-doh chee-keen | fried rooster |
フライドポテト/ポテト | furaido poteto/poteto | foo-rye-doh poh-teh-toh/poh-teh-toh | French fries |
ケチャップ | kechappu | keh-chah-POO | ketchup |
マヨネーズ | mayonēzu | mah-yoh-nay-zoo | mayonnaise |
サンドイッチ/サンド | sandoicchi/sando | sahn-doh-wee-chee/sahn-doh | sandwich |
サラダ | sarada | sah-rah-dah | salad |
オムライス | omuraisu | oh-moo-rye-soo | an omelette on ketchup-flavored rooster rice |
ハンバーグ | hanbāgu | hahn-bahh-goo | much like Salisbury steak with demiglace sauce |
豚カツ | tonkatsu | tohn-kah-tsoo | breaded, deep-fried pork cutlets |
カレー | karē | kah-ray | curry (not spicy, with carrots and potatoes) |
コンソメ | konsome | kohn-soh-may | concentrated soup inventory, based mostly on French consommé |
Japanese meals phrases to explain shokkan (meals textures)
Texture phrases might accompany Japanese meals names on menus or packaging to speak the expertise of consuming the objects, making them extra appetizing! These phrases are Japanese onomatopoeias and infrequently have repeating sounds.
Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
ふわふわ | fuwa fuwa | foo-wah foo-wah | fluffy |
ぷるぷる | puru puru | poo-roo poo-roo | jiggly like pudding |
もちもち | mochi mochi | moh-chee moh-chee | gentle and chewy like mochi |
サクサク | saku saku | sah-koo sah-koo | flaky or ethereal, akin to pastries |
パリパリ | pari pari | pah-ree pah-ree | gentle and crispy |
カリカリ | kari kari | kah-ree kah-ree | crunchy |
ガリガリ | gari gari | gah-ree gah-ree | onerous and crunchy |
トロトロ | toro toro | toh-roh toh-roh | melting, akin to cheese |
粘々 | neba neba | neh-bah neh-bah | gooey and barely sticky, akin to nattō |
Should you’d like to make use of these distinctive Japanese meals phrases and meanings in sentences, most might be transformed to suru verbs. For instance:
- Udon wa mochi mochi shite imasu. (うどんはもちもちしています。) = The udon is gentle and chewy.
- Pari pari shita potechi o kaimashita. (パリパリしたポテチを買いました。) = I purchased crispy potato chips.
- Chotto toro toro shite iru tamago ga suki desu. (ちょっとトロトロしている卵が好きです。) = I like eggs which can be a bit runny.
Savor a spread of flavors with Japanese meals phrases
There are such a lot of scrumptious meals objects to strive in Japan, together with fruits grown with care, conventional dishes with complicated flavors, and on a regular basis snacks.
Should you’d like to make use of Japanese meals phrases to choose up produce at a yaoya (八百屋; inexperienced grocer) or eat at a resutoran (レストラン; restaurant), you possibly can study learn how to order meals in Japanese by means of Rosetta Stone. With immersive studying, you’ll communicate sensible phrases aloud with quick accent suggestions, so you possibly can deal with meals conditions with confidence!