ディッシュ
disshu
The English word 'dish' can be translated into Japanese as either ディッシュ (disshu) or 食事.
Meaning: specific type of food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ディッシュ | disshu | |
| 食事 | shokuji | [ɕo̞kɯ̟ʑi] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the choice of word for 'dish' depends on whether you are referring to a specific culinary item, a Western-style concept or the act of eating. While ディッシュ refers to a specific type of food, it is often used in specific culinary terms. In general, when you want to refer to a specific prepared dish or a type of cuisine in a natural way, the word 料理 is more commonly used than the loanword ディッシュ.
Which one should you use?
ディッシュ is a loanword primarily used in culinary contexts, such as when saying 'main dish' or when discussing Western-style cuisine. In contrast, 食事 refers more broadly to a 'meal' or the act of eating rather than a specific prepared dish.
How do you pronounce it?
disshu
Did you know?
- When referring to 'side dishes', Japanese uses the word おかず. This word specifically refers to the food eaten to accompany a bowl of plain rice.
- The kanji for 料理 combines the meanings of 'manage' and 'material'. This implies that a 'dish' is the result of managing raw ingredients effectively.
- When discussing Japanese-style dishes, the term 和食 (washoku) is used. This is not just a description of the food but is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, representing a specific culinary tradition.
Examples in context
- 小さなフォークはサラダ用、大きなフォークはメインディッシュ用です。The small fork is for the salad and the large fork is for the main dish.This sentence shows how to use ディッシュ when distinguishing between utensils for different parts of a meal.Tatoeba #882421 by thyc244, translation #12755757 by CK
- 日本料理は美味しいですね。Japanese cuisine is delicious, isn't it?
- お皿が綺麗ですね。The dish is beautiful, isn't it?
- このごはんはとても美味しい！This dish is very delicious!
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are looking at a menu in a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui健太、どのディッシュを注文する？Kenta, dono disshu o chuumon suru?Kenta, which dish are you going to order?
- 健太 Kenta僕はパスタのディッシュにするよ。Boku wa pasuta no disshu ni suru yo.I'll go with the pasta dish.
- 結衣 Yuiいい選択だね。私もそれにしようかな。Ii sentaku da ne. Watashi mo sore ni shiyou kana.That's a good choice. Maybe I'll have that too.
- 健太 Kenta店員さんに注文しよう。Ten'in-san ni chuumon shiyou.Let's order from the server.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dish” translations and entries 食事, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
