カフェ
kafe[ka̠ɸe̞]
The English phrase "cafe" is translated into Japanese as カフェ (kafe).
カフェ refers to a small restaurant where people buy and drink coffee and other beverages.
Which one should you use?
While カフェ is used for modern, Western-style coffee shops, 喫茶店 (kissaten) refers to more traditional, often older-style Japanese coffee shops. The term 喫茶 is a more formal alternative for "cafe" that carries a traditional nuance.
How do you pronounce it?
kafe
Did you know?
- Japanese 喫茶店 culture popularized the 'morning service', where ordering a coffee provides a complimentary set of thick toast and a hard-boiled egg.
- The term 喫茶 is derived from characters meaning 'drink' and 'tea', yet these establishments became the primary hub for the consumption of coffee in Japan.
- Certain themed カフェ in Japan, such as animal cafes, are regulated differently than food-service cafes because they function as both zoos and eateries.
Examples in context
- カフェがありますか。Is there a cafe?This sentence is useful for asking if a cafe is present.Tatoeba #226240 by arnab, translation #63580 by Scott
- 2階にカフェがあるんだ。There is a cafe on the second floor.This sentence is useful for stating that a cafe is located on the second floor.Tatoeba #11933213 by small_snow, translation #10130043 by sundown
- カフェはもう閉まってるよ。The cafe is already closed.This sentence is useful for noting that a cafe is already closed.Tatoeba #11737665 by small_snow, translation #9944107 by ddnktr
- 日本へ旅行する際、カフェでお茶を飲みたいと思っています。I would like to have tea at a cafe when I travel to Japan.
- 日本の喫茶店では、美味しいコーヒーが飲めます。You can have delicious coffee at Japanese cafes.
- 今日は友達とカフェに行く予定です。I'm planning to go to a cafe with my friends today.
- 最近、喫茶店でゆっくり読書するのが好きです。Lately, I enjoy spending time reading books at cafes.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are walking through a shopping district.
- 陽葵 Himariこの近くに新しいカフェができたよ。Kono chikaku ni atarashii kafe ga dekita yo.A new cafe opened near here.
- 健太 Kenta本当？休憩したいね。Honto? Kyuukei shitai ne.Really? I want to take a break.
- 陽葵 Himariあそこのカフェに行ってみる？Asoko no kafe ni itte miru?Shall we try going to that cafe over there?
- 健太 Kentaうん、行こう！Un, ikou!Yeah, let's go!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry カフェ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
