飴
ame[a̠me̞]
The English phrase "candy" can be translated into Japanese as 飴 (ame), the default form. Wiktionary also lists キャンデー (kyandē) and キャンディ (kyandi).
Meaning: piece of candy (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 飴 | ame | [a̠me̞] (narrow) |
| キャンデー | kyandē | [kʲã̠nde̞ː] (narrow) |
| キャンディ | kyandi | [kʲã̠ndʲi] (narrow) |
The term is used to refer to pieces of candy or confectionery.
Which one should you use?
The native Japanese word 飴 is typically used for traditional hard candies or lozenges. In contrast, the katakana loanwords キャンデー and キャンディ are often used for Western-style confectionery. Note that キャンディ is a Japanese transliteration of the English word "candy".
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer specifically to a single piece or a ball of candy, you can use the word 飴玉.
How do you pronounce it?
ame
What mistakes should you avoid?
When saying 飴, be careful with the pitch. If you use a high-low pitch instead of a low-high pitch, your word may be confused with the Japanese word for rain, which is also pronounced ame.
Did you know?
- The word キャンディ traces its lineage not just through English, but back to the Tamil word kaṇṭi, likely entering the language via the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka.
- In Japan, giving 飴 is sometimes used as a metaphorical 'carrot' in the expression 飴と鞭, which means 'carrots and sticks'.
- There is a traditional Japanese craft called 飴細工 where artists sculpt molten 飴 into intricate 3D animals and flowers in seconds.
Examples in context
- 飴がほしい。I want a piece of candy.This sentence shows how to express a desire for a piece of 飴.Tatoeba #5272 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #2067 by CK
- 飴ちょうだい。I want some candy.This sentence is a way to ask for some 飴.Tatoeba #8569734 by bunbuku, translation #2763573 by CK
- これ、誰の飴？Whose candy is this?This sentence is used to ask about the ownership of a piece of 飴.Tatoeba #9446913 by small_snow, translation #6273794 by CK
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiromi and Ren are at home together.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、この飴、甘いよ。Ren-kun, kono ame, amai yo.Ren, this candy is sweet.
- 蓮 Ren本当？僕も一個食べていい？Hontou? Boku mo ikko tabete ii?Really? Can I have one too?
- 陽葵 Himariいいよ。どうぞ。Ii yo. Douzo.Sure. Here you go.
- 蓮 Renありがとう、陽葵ちゃん。Arigatou, Himari-chan.Thanks, Himari.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “candy” translations and entries 飴, キャンデー, キャンディ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries キャンディ, 飴, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
