Japanese by CCN
Japanese dictionary

How to say "rice" in Japanese

ごはん · gohan

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).

▶ plays native audio. Audio on this site plays when you are logged in to your free japanese.ccn.jp account (the same account as Japanese Talk by CCN).

Ways to say "rice" in Japanese

JapaneseWhen to use it
ごはん · gohanCooked rice; a meal.
こめ · komeUncooked rice.
らいす · raisuRice (on a plate, Western-style menus).
たんぼ · tanboRice 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

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.

Using Japanese at work?

Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.

See Executive Japanese