卵
[ta̠ma̠ɡo̞]
The English phrase "eggs" is translated into Japanese as 卵.
卵 is a general term for eggs. It is used for various types, such as chicken eggs or bird eggs, without needing to specify the species unless the context requires it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Nagoya dialect, たご means the same as tamago.
How does it change in a sentence?
卵 is a noun that does not change its form for pluralization. The same word is used for both "egg" and "eggs".
Did you know?
- The phrase 卵に毛が生える literally means 'hair grows on an egg' and is used to describe something that is still in its very earliest stages of development.
- In Japanese, the term 卵 can be used metaphorically to describe a beginner or someone who has not yet matured in a professional skill, similar to the English 'green' or 'novice'.
- The word 卵 is derived from 玉, meaning 'ball', and 子, meaning 'child' or 'small thing'.
Examples in context
- 鳥は卵を産む。Birds lay eggs.This sentence shows how to use 卵 when describing birds laying eggs.Tatoeba #125772 by KK_kaku_, translation #278220 by CK
- 卵が割れてる。The eggs are cracked.This sentence is useful for describing when 卵 is cracked.Tatoeba #11851974 by small_snow, translation #10110912 by ddnktr
- 卵いくつ買った？How many eggs did you buy?This sentence shows how to ask about the quantity of 卵 purchased.Tatoeba #8160498 by tommy_san, translation #6354684 by CK
- 朝ごはんに卵を食べるのが好きだ。I like to eat eggs for breakfast.
- 206 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Youta are talking in the kitchen about breakfast.
- 結衣 Yui朝ごはんに卵はありますか？asagohan ni tamago wa arimasu ka?Are there any eggs for breakfast?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、卵はありますよ。hai, tamago wa arimasu yo.Yes, there are eggs.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、目玉焼きを作りますね。jaa, medamayaki o tsukurimasu ne.Then, I will make sunny-side up eggs.
- 陽太 Yotaお願いします。onegai shimasu.Please do.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 卵, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 卵, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
