Japanese dictionary

How to say "breakfast" in Japanese

朝ご飯あさごはん · asagohan

The everyday word for breakfast is 朝ご飯 (asagohan), literally "morning rice." On hotel signs and menus you will often see the more formal 朝食 (chōshoku).

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Ways to say "breakfast" in Japanese

Japanese	When to use it
朝ご飯あさごはん · asagohan	Everyday word. Use it with friends, family and coworkers.
朝食ちょうしょく · chōshoku	Formal and written. Common at hotels, on menus and in business.
朝飯あさめし · asameshi	Casual and rough. Mostly used by men among close friends.
モーニングもーにんぐ · mōningu	A breakfast set at a coffee shop, often toast, egg and coffee.

How to use it

Japanese words for meals are built from the time of day and ご飯 (gohan, rice or meal): 朝ご飯 (breakfast), 昼ご飯 (lunch) and 晩ご飯 (dinner).

To say you eat breakfast, use the verb 食べる (taberu): 朝ご飯を食べます (asagohan o tabemasu). At a hotel, staff will say 朝食 (chōshoku), as in 朝食は七時からです.

Example sentences

朝ご飯は何を食べましたか。Asagohan wa nani o tabemashita ka.What did you have for breakfast?
毎朝、朝ご飯を食べてから会社に行きます。Maiasa, asagohan o tabete kara kaisha ni ikimasu.Every morning I eat breakfast before going to work.
ホテルの朝食は七時から十時までです。Hoteru no chōshoku wa shichiji kara jūji made desu.Breakfast at the hotel is from seven to ten.
朝食付きのプランを予約しました。Chōshokutsuki no puran o yoyaku shimashita.I booked a plan that includes breakfast.
明日は朝食会議があります。Ashita wa chōshoku kaigi ga arimasu.I have a breakfast meeting tomorrow.
忙しくて朝ご飯を食べる時間がありませんでした。Isogashikute asagohan o taberu jikan ga arimasen deshita.I was so busy that I didn't have time for breakfast.