Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Eat" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "eat", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
めしあがる
めしあがる (meshiagaru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
召し上がる
めしあがる (meshiagaru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "eat" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between めしあがる and 召し上がる.
In Japanese, めしあがる (めしあがる (meshiagaru)) is typically associated with "to eat, to drink (honorific form of 食べる/飲む)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Honorific form of 食べる.
On the other hand, 召し上がる (めしあがる (meshiagaru)) maps to "to eat, to drink (honorific)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents An honorific verb. A literal translation of "eat" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "めしあがる"
お客様、どうぞ温かいうちにお茶をめしあがってください。
Customer, please drink the tea while it's still warm.
Bilingual Context for "召し上がる"
社長はもうお食事を召し上がりましたか。
Has the company president already eaten?
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "お客様、どうぞ温かいうちにお茶をめしあがってください。" (Meaning: "Customer, please drink the tea while it's still warm.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "めしあがる" fits here because it means "to eat, to drink (honorific form of 食べる/飲む)" in the context of: "Customer, please drink the tea while it's still warm.". "召し上がる" represents "to eat, to drink (honorific)".