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Japanese Food - Word List and Vocabulary

Today you will learn how to pronounce food and write fruits, vegetables, meats, food drinks and sweets in Japanese [日本語]. In this organized list you will learn several words and increase your vocabulary.

The Japanese language is quite complex, and it borrows many words from other languages and writes them using Katakana (script used for foreign words). We recommend having some knowledge of the language.

Kudamono [果物] - Fruits in Japanese

Japanese Romanization Translation
りんご ringo apple
ぶどう grape grapes
なし nashi japanese pear
ようなし younashi Pear
かき kaki persimmon
オレンジ orenji orange
レモン Lemon lemon
ライム raimu five
グレープフルーツ grapefruit grapefruit
バナナ banana banana
いちご ichigo strawberry
ブルーベリー blueberry blueberry
さくらんぼ cherry blossom cherry
メロン meron green melon (honeydew)
すいか Watermelon watermelon

Curiosities: Japanese apples are much larger than western apples, while watermelons are quite small.

Food in Japanese - list of words and vocabulary

Yasai [やさい] - Vegetables in Japanese

Japanese Romaji Translation
にんじん carrot carrots
セロリ serori aipo
レタス Retasu lettuce
キャベツ cabbage cabbage
トマト tomato tomato
ねぎ negi green onion (scallions)
たまねぎ Tamanegi (Round) onion
ポテト Potato potatoes
ブロッコリー broccoli broccoli
ピーマン piiman chili, green pepper
まめ bean beans (in general)
ピース piisu peas
コーン koon corn

Japanese cuisine uses a lot of vegetables, including many that are unknown in the West. An example of a Japanese vegetable is daikon, which is a giant white radish.

Food in Japanese - list of words and vocabulary

Meat and Fish in Japanese

Japanese Romaji Translation
牛肉 beef meat
豚肉 pork meat pork meat
ハム ham ham
鶏肉 chicken meat chicken
egg egg
fish fish
エビ shrimp shrimp, shrimp, lobster
カニ kani crab
たこ tako octopus

Tori "ave" is used to refer to chicken in the context of food products, since turkey and other birds are rarely found in Japan. Similarly, meat "meat" without further specifications generally refers to beef, although pork meat (pork) is cheaper and consumed in greater quantities.

Food in Japanese - list of words and vocabulary

NYUUSEIHIN [乳製品] - DAIRY PRODUCTS IN JAPANESE

Japanese Romaji Translation
牛乳 milk milk
ミルク milk milk
チーズ cheese cheese
ヨーグルト yooguruto yogurt
アイスクリーム aisukuriimu ice cream

Dairy products are not used in traditional Japanese cuisine, but they can still be found in Japanese supermarkets and in Western foods. Both Gyuunyuu and Miruku are common words for milk.

NYUUSEIHIN [乳製品] - DAIRY PRODUCTS IN JAPANESE

Grains and Pasta in Japanese

Japanese Romaji Translation
rice rice (uncooked)
ご飯 rice cooked rice)
玄米 brown rice brown rice
うどん udon wheat noodles
そうめん soumen Thin Noodles (Noodles)
そば soba Buckwheat noodles
ラーメン Raamen ramen (Chinese noodles)
パン Pan bread, rolls, pies
菓子パン kashipan sweet bread cakes
ピザ pizza pizza
Food in Japanese - list of words and vocabulary

Other remarks:

Japanese rice It is short grain rice, unlike the long grain rice commonly used in the West. Short grain rice is a bit sticky and clumps together, making it easier to eat with chopsticks, but it is not starchy.

japanese noodles - especially somen e soba, it can be served hot or in a cold soup with a sauce. Noodles are a popular dish in Japanese cuisine.

The real ramen is a style of Chinese noodle soup, which became popular in Japan with its enormous fame. Pan in Japanese can refer to any type of bread or dough.

Nomimono [飲み物] - Drinks in Japanese

Japanese Romaji Translation
water water
お茶 tea green tea, in general
日本茶 Japanese tea japanese green tea
麦茶 mugicha Japanese iced barley tea
紅茶 black tea black tea (lit. "crimson tea")
コーヒー koohii cafe
ジュース juice juice
オレンジジュース orange juice orange juice
レモネード "remoneedo" does not have a direct translation or meaning in English. It might be a misspelling or a unique term. If you have a specific context or intended meaning for "remoneedo," please provide that, and I can assist further! lemonade
ソーダ sooda soda pop
お酒 Sake sake (rice) and alcohol in general
日本酒 nihonshu japanese sake
ワイン Wain wine
ビール beer beer
Sake

Japanese Seasonings and Condiments

Japanese Romaji Translation
醤油 Soy sauce soy sauce
fat oil
"su" does not have a direct translation in English as it can mean various things depending on context. If you meant it as an abbreviation or in a specific context, please provide more information. Otherwise, it remains as "su." vinegar
味醂 mirin cooking rice wine
shio salt
コショウ Koshou pepper
砂糖 satou sugar
わさび wasabi wasabi ("horseradish" Japanese)
ごま Sesame sesame seeds
バター bataa butter
ケチャップ kechappu ketchup

The true wasabi is a grated root. The green paste found outside of Japan is a cheaper substitute made from horseradish and mustard, two spicy plants. Also, read our article about Japanese seasonings.

Spices and seasonings in Japanese

Washoku [和食] - Japanese food in Japanese

Below we will see how to write traditional and Japanese foods. Also quickly understand what each Japanese food is.

Japanese Romaji Translation
寿司 sushi rice wrapped in seaweed
刺身 sashimi sliced raw fish
天ぷら tempura battered and fried vegetables and seafood
焼き鳥 yakitori chicken in stick
焼肉 grilled meat japanese barbecue
焼き魚 grilled fish grilled fish
焼きそば yakisoba fried noodles with vegetables and meats
すき焼き sukiyaki traditional japanese stew
お好み焼き okonomiyaki japanese pancake
とんかつ tonkatsu fried pork chop
カレー karee curry usually served with rice
コロッケ croquette fried croquette, typically made from mashed potatoes
餃子 Gyouza Chinese pastry
味噌汁 miso soup miso soup (soy-based)
漬物 tsukemono Japanese pickle salad

Yaki [焼き] can mean fried, grilled, roasted and the like. The word comes from the verb yaku [焼く] which means to fry, grill and bake. While not strictly native to Japan, Japanese curry is totally different from Indian curry.

Food in Japanese - list of words and vocabulary

YOUSHOKU [養殖] - WESTERN FOOD IN JAPANESE

Kana Romaji Translation
スープ soup soup (any kind)
サラダ salad salad
サンドイッチ sandwich sandwich
ハンバーガー hamburger hamburger
ホットドッグ hottodoggu hot dog
フライドポテト furaidopoteto french fries, french fries
フライドチキン fried chicken fried chicken
ステーキ suteeki steak
スパゲッティー spaghetti spaghetti

Note that despite similar names, Japanese versions of Western foods are typically adapted to Japanese tastes.

We also recommend reading: The 100 most popular Japanese meals in Japan

YOUSHOKU [養殖] - WESTERN FOOD IN JAPANESE

Snacks and Sweets in Japanese

Japanese Romaji Translation
チップ chippu chips
ポップコーン poppukoon popcorn
クッキー kukkii little cakes
ケーキ cake "Hello"
パ イ father cake
アイスクリーム aisukuriimu ice cream
チョコレート chocolate chocolate
ゼリー zerii jam (gelatin and similar desserts)
わがし wagashi traditional Japanese sweets (many are cookies)

Dessert is not traditionally served after meals in Japan (except for fresh fruit), but sweet foods are eaten as snacks or all the time.

Hope you enjoyed the article. Thanks to “japaneseprofessor” for sharing some information from the article. Hope you enjoyed the article. If you liked it, share it and leave your comments.