チリ
chiri[t͡ɕiɾʲi]
In Japanese, 'chili' can be translated as チリ (chiri) or 唐辛子.
Meaning: spicy fresh or dried fruit of capsicum (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| チリ | chiri | [t͡ɕiɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 唐辛子 | tōgarashi | [to̞ːɡa̠ɾa̠ɕi] (narrow) |
The term refers to the spicy fresh or dried fruit of the capsicum plant. To describe the heat of chili peppers or dishes prepared with them, you can use the word 辛い (spicy). If the heat is intense, the term 激辛 is used to convey that something is extremely spicy.
Which one should you use?
唐辛子 (tōgarashi) is the most common way to refer to a chili pepper in a general sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting chili peppers, use the counter word 本 (hon) for these long, slim objects.
How do you pronounce it?
chiri
Did you know?
- The word チリ is a linguistic traveler that likely passed through Portuguese before entering Japanese. It originates from the Quechua word for 'the end of the world', describing the extreme southern location of the Americas.
- Despite the meaning of 唐 as 'China', chili peppers were introduced to Japan through Portuguese traders in the 16th century.
- The phrase 激辛 (gekikara) has evolved beyond food to describe people with extremely sharp, biting, or severe personalities.
Examples in context
- コリアンダー・唐辛子・生姜を持ってくるのを忘れないで。Don't forget to bring coriander, chili peppers, and ginger.This sentence shows how to list coriander, chili peppers and ginger using 唐辛子.Tatoeba #10603905 by small_snow, translation #8998593 by shekitten
- トウガラシを三本Three chili peppers
- この料理にはチリを入れました。We added chili to this dish.
- このトウガラシは非常に辛いです。This chili is very spicy.
- 美味しいチリを作るには、良い粉唐辛子が必要です。To make delicious chili, you need good powdered chili pepper.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are preparing a meal together.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔、チリはどこにある？Daishō, chiri wa doko ni aru?Daishō, where is the chili?
- 大翔 Hirotoあそこに置いてあるよ。Asoko ni oite aru yo.It's over there.
- 陽葵 Himariあ、見つけた。ありがとう。A, mitsuketa. Arigatō.Oh, I found it. Thanks.
- 大翔 Hiroto入れすぎないようにね。Iresuginai yō ni ne.Don't put in too much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chili” translations and entries チリ, 唐辛子, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries チリ, 唐辛子, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
