きび砂糖
kibizatō
Cane sugar in Japanese is きび砂糖 (kibizatō).
きび砂糖 is the noun used to refer specifically to sugar derived from the sugar cane plant.
Meaning: sugar from the sugar cane plant (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of きび, meaning cane and 砂糖, meaning sugar.
How do you pronounce it?
kibizatō
Did you know?
- In historical Japan, sugar was once considered a medicine and sold in pharmacies rather than food markets.
- The kanji for sugar, 糖 (tō), is also the character used in the word for 'diabetes' (糖尿病, tōnyōbyō), which literally translates to 'sugar urine disease'.
- In Japan, the term きび (kibi) is also used to refer to millet, a type of small grain. This can lead to temporary confusion between cane sugar and millet-based products in certain culinary contexts.
Examples in context
- きび砂糖を使ってください。kibi sato o tsukatte kudasai.Please use cane sugar.
- このお菓子にはきび砂糖が入っています。kono okashi ni wa kibi sato ga haitte imasu.This sweet contains cane sugar.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are in the kitchen making coffee.
- 美咲 Misaki砂糖は何を使いますか？sato wa nani o tsukaimasu ka?What sugar will you use?
- 蓮 Renきび砂糖を使いたいです。kibi sato o tsukaitai desu.I want to use cane sugar.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、こちらにきび砂糖がありますよ。hai, kochira ni kibi sato ga arimasu yo.Okay, here is the cane sugar.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます、美咲さん。arigatou gozaimasu, Misaki-san.Thank you, Misaki.
