Complete Guide to Japanese Food Names & Pronunciation (2025)
Master Japanese food names with our comprehensive pronunciation guide. Learn how to read and say popular dishes correctly.
What You'll Learn
Master the correct pronunciation of Japanese food names and essential restaurant phrases. From sushi to ramen to tempura, this guide covers everything you need to order confidently!
Introduction
Learning to pronounce Japanese food names correctly is more than just a language skillโit's a key to showing respect for Japanese culture and unlocking richer dining experiences.
With over 89,000 Japanese restaurants worldwide, mastering proper pronunciation will help you order confidently anywhere, from Tokyo to your local sushi bar.
Popular Japanese Dishes: Names & Pronunciation
๐ฃ Sushi & Sashimi
Common Sushi Types
- ใพใใ (maguro) - mah-goo-roh - Tuna
- ใใ (sake) - sah-keh - Salmon
- ใใณ (ebi) - eh-bee - Shrimp
- ใใชใ (unagi) - oo-nah-gee - Eel
- ใใใ (ikura) - ee-koo-rah - Salmon roe
Sushi vs Sashimi
ๅฏฟๅธ๏ผใใ๏ผใใใ ใใใ
I'd like sushi, please.
Sushi (su-shi) wo kudasai.
ๅบ่บซ๏ผใใใฟ๏ผใฎ็ใๅใใ
Assorted sashimi
Sashimi (sa-shi-mi) no moriawase
Pronunciation Tip
In Japanese, every syllable gets equal emphasis. Unlike English, there's no strong stress on particular syllables.
๐ Noodle Dishes
Popular Noodle Dishes
- ใฉใผใกใณ (ramen) - rah-mehn - Not "rah-min"
- ใใฉใ (udon) - oo-dohn - Thick wheat noodles
- ใใฐ (soba) - soh-bah - Buckwheat noodles
- ใใใใฐ (yakisoba) - yah-kee-soh-bah - Fried noodles
Types of Ramen
้คๆฒนใฉใผใกใณใใ้กใใใพใใ
Soy sauce ramen, please.
Shoyu ramen (shoh-yoo rah-mehn) wo onegai shimasu.
ๅณๅใฉใผใกใณใๅฅฝใใงใใ
I like miso ramen.
Miso ramen (mee-soh rah-mehn) ga suki desu.
๐ฑ Rice Bowls (Donburi)
Popular Donburi
- ๅคฉไธผ (tendon) - tehn-dohn - Tempura bowl
- ่ฆชๅญไธผ (oyakodon) - oh-yah-koh-dohn - Chicken & egg bowl
- ใซใไธผ (katsudon) - kah-tsoo-dohn - Pork cutlet bowl
- ็ไธผ (gyudon) - gyoo-dohn - Beef bowl
๐ฅ Fried & Grilled Dishes
Popular Fried Foods
ๅคฉใทใใฏใตใฏใตใฏใงใใ
Tempura is crispy.
Tempura (tehm-poo-rah) wa sakusaku desu.
ๅๆใใ๏ผๅใใ ใใใ
Five pieces of karaage, please.
Karaage (kah-rah-ah-geh) wo go-ko kudasai.
Essential Restaurant Phrases
Basic Ordering Phrases
- ใใใใใ ใใ - koh-reh woh koo-dah-sah-ee - This one, please
- ใใใใใฏ๏ผ - oh-soo-soo-meh wah - What's recommended?
- ใไผ่จใ้กใใใพใ - oh-kai-keh oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mahs - Check, please
From Entry to Exit
ใใใฃใใใใพใ๏ผ
Welcome!
Irasshaimase! (ee-rah-shai-mah-seh)
ไบไบบใงใใ
Two people.
Futari desu. (foo-tah-ree deh-soo)
ใใกใใใใพใงใใใ
Thank you for the meal.
Gochisousama deshita. (goh-chee-soh-sah-mah deh-shee-tah)
Common Pronunciation Mistakes
Watch Out!
These mistakes immediately identify you as a beginner. Let's fix them!
Top 5 Mispronounced Words
- Sake (salmon) vs Sake (alcohol) - Both are "sah-keh"
- Karaoke - "kah-rah-oh-keh" (NOT "carry-oh-key")
- Wasabi - "wah-sah-bee" (no stress on any syllable)
- Edamame - "eh-dah-mah-meh" (NOT "ed-uh-MAH-may")
- Tempura - "tehm-poo-rah" (NOT "tem-POO-rah")
Food Categories & Cooking Methods
Food Categories
Japanese Food Categories
- ๅ้ฃ (washoku) - wah-shoh-koo - Japanese cuisine
- ๆด้ฃ (yoshoku) - yoh-shoh-koo - Western-style Japanese
- ไธญ่ฏ (chuka) - choo-kah - Chinese-style food
- ๅฎ้ฃ (teishoku) - teh-shoh-koo - Set meals
Cooking Methods
Cooking Style Expressions
็ผใ้ญใใ้กใใใพใใ
Grilled fish, please.
Yakizakana (yah-kee-zah-kah-nah) wo onegai shimasu.
ใใใฏๆใ็ฉใงใใ๏ผ
Is this deep-fried?
Kore wa agemono (ah-geh-moh-noh) desu ka?
Drinks & Desserts
Popular Beverages
- ใ่ถ (ocha) - oh-chah - Green tea
- ใใผใซ (biiru) - bee-roo - Beer
- ๆฅๆฌ้ (nihonshu) - nee-hohn-shoo - Sake
- ใฉใ ใ (ramune) - rah-moo-neh - Japanese soda
Japanese Sweets
- ใใก (mochi) - moh-chee - Rice cake
- ใ ใใ (dango) - dahn-goh - Dumplings
- ใฉใ็ผใ (dorayaki) - doh-rah-yah-kee - Pancake sandwich
- ๆน่ถใขใคใน (matcha ice) - mah-tchah ah-ee-soo - Green tea ice cream
Japanese Dining Etiquette
Cultural Tips
Along with proper pronunciation, these manners will help you dine like a local!
Dining Manners
- Before eating: ใใใ ใใพใ (ee-tah-dah-kee-mahss)
- After eating: ใใกใใใใพใงใใ (goh-chee-soh-sah-mah deh-shee-tah)
- Never stick chopsticks upright in rice
- Slurping noodles is polite!
Practice Makes Perfect
Daily Practice Routine
1. Choose 5 food words daily
2. Practice pronunciation 3x each
3. Use them when ordering
4. Watch Japanese cooking shows
5. Record yourself and compare
Quick Reference Chart
| Food | Japanese | Romaji | Pronunciation Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi | ใใ | sushi | soo-shee |
| Ramen | ใใผใใ | ramen | rah-mehn |
| Tempura | ใฆใใทใ | tempura | tehm-poo-rah |
| Sashimi | ใใใฟ | sashimi | sah-shee-mee |
| Udon | ใใฉใ | udon | oo-dohn |
| Miso soup | ใฟใใใ | miso shiru | mee-soh shee-roo |
Conclusion
Don't aim for perfectionโaim for trying! Japanese people always appreciate the effort foreigners make to speak their language.
Your Next Step
Use what you learned today at your next Japanese restaurant visit. Start with simple items like "sushi" and "miso soup," then gradually expand your vocabulary. You'll build confidence with each order!
Keita Sensei
Founder of Suppai
Passionate about making Japanese learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Follow for more tips and insights into mastering the Japanese language! ๐