Today you will learn how to pronounce food and write fruits, vegetables, meat, drinks, food 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 he borrows several words from other languages and writes it using katakana (writing 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 | budou | grape |
なし | nashi | Japanese pear |
ようなし | younashi | Wait |
かき | kaki | khaki |
オレンジ | orenji | orange |
レモン | Remon | lemon |
ライム | raimu | lime |
グレープフルーツ | gureepufuruutsu | grapefruit |
バナナ | banana | banana |
いちご | ichigo | Strawberry |
ブルーベリー | buruuberii | blueberry |
さくらんぼ | sakuranbo | cherry |
メロン | meron | green melon (honeydew) |
すいか | Suika | watermelon |
Curiosities: Japanese apples are much larger than Western apples, while watermelons are quite small.

Yasai [やさい] - Vegetables in Japanese
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
にんじん | ninjin | carrots |
セロリ | serori | celery |
レタス | Retasu | lettuce |
キャベツ | kyabetsu | cabbage |
トマト | tomato | tomato |
ねぎ | negi | green onion (chives) |
たまねぎ | Tamanegi | (Round) onion |
ポテト | Poteto | potatoes |
ブロッコリー | burokkorii | broccoli |
ピーマン | piiman | chili, green pepper |
まめ | mom | 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 the daikon, which is a giant white radish.

Japanese meat and fish
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
牛肉 | gyuuniku | beef |
豚肉 | butaniku | pork |
ハム | hamu | Ham |
鶏肉 | toriniku | chicken |
卵 | tamago | egg |
魚 | sakana | fish |
エビ | ebi | shrimp, shrimp, lobster |
カニ | kani | crab |
たこ | tako | octopus |
Tori “Bird” is used to refer to chicken in the context of food products, since turkey and other birds are rare to find in Japan. Likewise, niku “Meat” without other specifications generally refers to beef, although butaniku (pork) is cheaper and consumed in greater quantities.

Nyuuseihin [乳製品] - Japanese dairy products
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
牛乳 | gyuunyuu | milk |
ミルク | miruku | milk |
チーズ | chiizu | 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 Western foods. Both gyuunyuu and miruku are common words for milk.
![Japanese food - word list and vocabulary Nyuuseihin [乳製品] - Japanese dairy products](https://i2.wp.com/skdesu.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/caixa-de-leite.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1)
GRAINS AND Pasta in Japanese
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
米 | kome | rice (uncooked) |
ご飯 | gohan | cooked rice) |
玄米 | genmai | brown rice |
うどん | udon | Wheat noodles |
そうめん | soumen | Thin noodles (noodles) |
そば | under the | 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 |

Other observations:
Japanese rice it is short-grain, unlike the long-grain rice normally used in the West. Short grain rice is a little sticky and clumps together, making it easier to eat with chopsticks, but it is not papulous.
Japanese noodles - especially only and under the, can be served hot or in a cold soup with a sauce. Macaroni is a popular dish of Japanese cuisine.
The real ramen is a style of Chinese noodle soup, which became popular in Japan and has a huge reputation. Pan in Japanese it can refer to any type of bread or pasta.
Nomimono [飲み物] - Drinks in Japanese
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
水 | mizu | Water |
お茶 | the tea | green tea, tea in general |
日本茶 | nihoncha | Japanese green tea |
麦茶 | mugu | Japanese iced barley tea |
紅茶 | koucha | black tea (lit. “crimson tea”) |
コーヒー | koohii | coffee |
ジュース | juusu | juice |
オレンジジュース | orenjijuusu | Orange juice |
レモネード | remoneedo | Lemonade |
ソーダ | sooda | soda pop |
お酒 | Osake | sake (rice) and alcohol in general |
日本酒 | nihonshu | Japanese Sake |
ワイン | Wain | wine |
ビール | biiru | beer |
Japanese Seasonings and Condiments
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
醤油 | Shouyu | soy sauce |
油 | abura | oil |
酢 | su | vinegar |
味醂 | mirin | cooking rice wine |
塩 | shio | salt |
コショウ | Koshou | chili |
砂糖 | satou | sugar |
わさび | wasabi | wasabi (Japanese “horseradish”) |
ごま | Gum | sesame seeds |
バター | beat | butter |
ケチャップ | kechappu | ketchup |
The true wasabi it is a grated root. The green paste found outside Japan is a cheaper substitute made from horseradish and mustard, two spicy plants. Also read our article on Japanese spices.

Washoku [和食] - Japanese food in nihongo
Below we will see how to write traditional and Japanese foods. Also quickly understand what each Japanese food.
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
寿司 | Sushi | rice wrapped in seaweed |
刺身 | Sashimi | sliced raw fish |
天ぷら | tenpura | breaded and fried vegetables and seafood |
焼き鳥 | yakitori | chicken in stick |
焼肉 | yakiniku | Japanese barbecue |
焼き魚 | yakizakana | grilled fish |
焼きそば | yakisoba | fried noodles with vegetables and meat |
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 | kurokke | fried kibble, usually of potato puree |
餃子 | Gyouza | Chinese pastry |
味噌汁 | misoshiru | 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 roast. Although not strictly native to Japan, Japanese curry is totally different from Indian curry.
Youshoku [養殖] - Western food in Japanese
Kana | Romaji | Translation |
スープ | suupu | soup (any type) |
サラダ | healed | salad |
サンドイッチ | sandoitchi | sandwich |
ハンバーガー | hanbaagaa | 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 | furaidochikin | fried chicken |
ステーキ | suteeki | steak |
スパゲッティー | supgettii | spaghetti |
Note that despite similar names, Japanese versions of Western foods are usually adapted to Japanese tastes. We recommend reading our article on popular japan foods.
![Japanese food - word list and vocabulary Youshoku [養殖] - western food in Japanese](https://i1.wp.com/skdesu.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/crepe-comida.jpg?resize=800%2C356&ssl=1)
Japanese Snacks and Sweets
Japanese | Romaji | Translation |
チップ | chippu | French fries |
ポップコーン | poppukoon | popcorn |
クッキー | kukkii | cookies |
ケーキ | keeki | cake |
パイ | dad | pie |
アイスクリーム | aisukuriimu | ice cream |
チョコレート | chokoreeto | chocolate |
ゼリー | zerii | jelly (gelatin and similar desserts) |
わがし | wagashi | traditional Japanese sweets (many are cookies) |
Dessert is not traditionally served after meals in Japan (except fresh fruit), but sweet foods are eaten as snacks or the whole time lol.
I hope you enjoyed the article. Thanks to japaneseprofessor for sharing some information from the article. I hope you enjoyed the article. If you liked, share and leave your comments.