朝食
chōshoku[t͡ɕo̞ːɕo̞kɯ̟]
In Japanese, breakfast can be said as 朝食 (chōshoku). If unsure, use 朝食. Wiktionary also lists 朝飯 (asameshi).
Meaning: first meal of the day (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 朝食 | chōshoku | [t͡ɕo̞ːɕo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) [a̠sa̠ɕo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 朝飯 | asameshi | [a̠sa̠me̞ɕi] (narrow) [a̠sa̠iː] (narrow) |
The term for breakfast refers to the first meal of the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 朝食 is composed of the characters for morning and meal/food.
Which one should you use?
朝食 is a formal or standard term used in written Japanese or polite contexts. In contrast, 朝飯 is a more casual, colloquial way to say breakfast, often used in daily speech.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the act of eating breakfast formally, you can use the verb phrase 朝食を摂る.
How do you pronounce it?
chōshoku
When do people say it?
The term モーニング (morning) is used in Japan, especially in trendy cafés, to refer to a Western-style breakfast.
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the phrase 朝飯前 meaning 'before breakfast' is used as an idiom to describe a task that is incredibly easy to complete.
- In many Japanese cafes, a 'morning' service is a cultural phenomenon where ordering a coffee automatically includes free pieces of thick-cut toast.
- The verb 摂る used with 朝食 is more clinical or formal than the standard verb for 'to eat', as it carries a nuance of 'intaking' nutrients.
Examples in context
- 僕が朝食作るよ。I'll make breakfast.This sentence is useful for saying you will make 朝食.Tatoeba #9237576 by small_snow, translation #9237575 by CK
- 朝食を抜きました。I skipped my breakfast.This sentence is useful for saying you skipped 朝食.Tatoeba #126181 by small_snow, translation #277811 by CK
- 朝食は何を食べたの？What did you have for breakfast?This sentence is useful for asking what someone ate for 朝食.Tatoeba #126196 by bunbuku, translation #277782 by CK
- 210 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hina and Kenta are talking at a hotel.
- 陽葵 Himari朝食は何時からですか？Chōshoku wa nan-ji kara desu ka?What time is breakfast?
- 健太 Kenta七時から十時までだよ。Shichi-ji kara jū-ji made da yo.It's from seven to ten.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。朝食を楽しみにしています。Ii desu ne. Chōshoku o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.That's good. I'm looking forward to breakfast.
- 健太 Kenta僕もだよ。たくさん食べよう！Boku mo da yo. Takusan tabeyō!Me too. Let's eat a lot!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breakfast” translations and entries 朝食, 朝飯, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
