昼ご飯を食べます
hirugohan o tabemasu
To say "I eat lunch" in Japanese, use 昼ご飯を食べます (hirugohan o tabemasu).
This phrase is used to state that one is consuming a midday meal. In Japanese, the subject "I" (watashi) is often omitted from this phrase if it is clear from the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The word for lunch, 昼ご飯, consists of 昼 (noon/daytime) and ご飯 (meal/cooked rice). The particle を acts as an object marker, marking the lunch as the direct object of the verb. The verb 食べます means "eat" in its polite form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can make the phrase informal by using the dictionary form 食べる instead of 食べます, such as in the phrase 昼ご飯を食べる.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle を marks the lunch as the direct object of the verb 'to eat'.
How do you pronounce it?
hirugohan o tabemasu
Did you know?
- If you are eating lunch with others, you would say いただきます (itadakimasu) before starting. This phrase literally means 'I humbly receive' and expresses gratitude to the plants, animals and people involved.
- If you are eating lunch with a superior, you should avoid using the verb 食べる (taberu) and instead use the humble form いただく (itadaku) to show respect.
- While 昼ご飯 is common, you might also hear people say ランチ (ranchi), a loanword from English, especially when referring to a Western-style meal or a stylish cafe setting.
Examples in context
- 毎日、会社で昼ご飯を食べます。Mainichi, kaisha de hirugohan o tabemasu.I eat lunch at the office every day.
- 正午に昼ご飯を食べます。Shouji ni hirugohan o tabemasu.I eat lunch at noon.
- 外で昼ご飯を食べます。Soto de hirugohan o tabemasu.I eat lunch outside.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are talking at the office.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、お腹が空きましたね。Kenta-san, onaka ga sukimashita ne.Kenta, I'm hungry, aren't you?
- 健太 Kentaそうですね。今から昼ご飯を食べます。Sō desu ne. Ima kara hirugohan o tabemasu.You're right. I'll eat lunch now.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。私も一緒に行きます。Ii desu ne. Watashi mo issho ni ikimasu.Sounds good. I'll go with you.
- 健太 Kenta行きましょう！Ikimashō!Let's go!
