How to Say "Burger" in Japanese

バーガー

bāgā[ba̠ːɡa̠ː]

The Japanese word for burger is バーガー (bāgā).

The term refers to a hamburger. It is often used as a component of compound nouns for specific types of burgers, such as チーズバーガー (cheese burger).

Meaning: informal: hamburger (noun)

Which one should you use?

While バーガー (bāgā) is used as a suffix or in casual shorthand, ハンバーガー (hanbāgā) is the full, standard noun for a hamburger.

bāgā

If you order just a ハンバーグ (hanbāgu), you will not receive a burger on a bun, but rather a Salisbury steak patty served on a plate.
While バーガー is borrowed from English, the Japanese 'hamburger' culture was heavily shaped by the 'rice burger', which replaces the bun with compressed rice.
Some Japanese gourmet バーガー shops emphasize 'teriyaki' as a primary flavor, a style that is much more common in Japan than in the US.

ハンバーガーを食べてから寝ました。
I ate a burger, then went to bed.
This sentence shows how to describe an action taken after eating a バーガー.
Tatoeba #1533024 by bunbuku, translation #953363 by CK
ウェンディーズはハンバーガー屋さんです。
Wendy's is a burger place.
This sentence uses the term to describe a restaurant that sells バーガー.
Tatoeba #11211672 by ITA, translation #12143692 by end
本当にあのハンバーガーにはネズミの肉は入っていない？
Are you sure there isn't rat meat in that burger?
This sentence uses the term in a question regarding the contents of a バーガー.
Tatoeba #6855692 by Sonata, translation #2755271 by mervert1
ハンバーガーを食べたことありますか？
Have you ever eaten a burger?
あのお店のバーガー、美味しいよ！
The burgers at that restaurant are delicious!
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Kenta and Yui are deciding what to eat for lunch.

結衣 Yui

お昼にバーガーを食べに行かない？
Ohiru ni bāgā o tabe ni ikanai?
Do you want to go eat burgers for lunch?
健太 Kenta

いいよ。どこのバーガーにする？
Ii yo. Doko no bāgā ni suru?
Sure. Which burger place should we go to?
結衣 Yui

駅の前の新しい店に行こう。
Eki no mae no atarashii mise ni ikou.
Let's go to the new shop in front of the station.
健太 Kenta

賛成。早く行こう！
Sansei. Hayaku ikou!
I agree. Let's go quickly!

Sources

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