Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Meal" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "meal", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
ご飯
ごはん (gohan)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
食事
しょくじ (shokuji)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "meal" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ご飯 and 食事.
In Japanese, ご飯 (ごはん (gohan)) is typically associated with "meal, cooked rice" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Can mean 'cooked rice' or 'a meal'.
On the other hand, 食事 (しょくじ (shokuji)) maps to "meal" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A noun meaning 'meal'. Can be used with する to mean 'to have a meal'. A literal translation of "meal" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "ご飯"
晩ごはんを食べましょう。
Let's eat dinner.
Bilingual Context for "食事"
夜、家族と一緒に食事をします。
I have a meal with my family in the evening.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "晩ごはんを食べましょう。" (Meaning: "Let's eat dinner.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ご飯" fits here because it means "meal, cooked rice" in the context of: "Let's eat dinner.". "食事" represents "meal".