How to say "rice" in Japanese
Japanese has different words for rice. Cooked rice is ご飯 (gohan). Uncooked rice is お米 (okome). On Western-style menus, rice served on a plate is ライス (raisu).
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Ways to say "rice" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| ご飯ごはん · gohan | Cooked rice; a meal. |
| 米こめ · kome | Uncooked rice. |
| ライスらいす · raisu | Rice (on a plate, Western-style menus). |
| 田んぼたんぼ · tanbo | Rice field. |
How to use it
ご飯 also means a meal in general: 朝ご飯 (breakfast).
A rice cooker is 炊飯器 (suihanki).
Example sentences
- ご飯のおかわりをください。Gohan no okawari o kudasai.More rice, please.
- スーパーでお米を買いました。Sūpā de okome o kaimashita.I bought rice at the supermarket.
- セットはパンとライスから選べます。Setto wa pan to raisu kara erabemasu.The set comes with your choice of bread or rice.
- 炊飯器でご飯を炊きます。Suihanki de gohan o takimasu.I cook rice in a rice cooker.
- 新潟はお米がおいしいです。Niigata wa okome ga oishii desu.Niigata is known for delicious rice.
- ご飯を少なめにしてください。Gohan o sukuname ni shite kudasai.A smaller portion of rice, please.
Kanji in this word
Questions
What is the difference between ご飯 and お米?
ご飯 (gohan) is cooked rice, and also a meal. お米 (okome) is uncooked rice you buy.
How do you ask for more rice in Japanese?
Say ご飯のおかわりをください (gohan no okawari o kudasai). Some restaurants offer free refills.
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