ご飯を食べます
The English phrase "I eat rice" is expressed in Japanese as ご飯を食べます.
The word gohan can refer specifically to cooked white rice or, more generally, to a meal in a broad sense. The verb tabemasu means to eat. While not present in the default form, the word watashi means "I" and serves as a neutral way to refer to oneself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of ご飯 (gohan) meaning 'rice' or 'meal', を (o) the object marker particle and 食べます (tabemasu) meaning 'eat'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The polite form 食べます is used when speaking with strangers or superiors. In contrast, the informal form 食べる is used in casual speech with friends or family.
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific word, お米 (okome), for raw, uncooked rice. Using お米 in the phrase ご飯を食べます would sound like you are eating raw grains.
- Japanese culture has a specific ritual of saying いただきます (itadakimasu) before 'eating rice', which translates more closely to 'I humbly receive' than 'let's eat'.
- The word ご飯 (gohan) contains the character 飯 meaning 'cooked rice' and the honorific prefix ご (go). This prefix is added to show respect for the food and the act of eating.
Examples in context
- Watashi wa gohan o tabemasu. (わたしはごはんをたべます。)I eat rice.
- 毎朝、ご飯を食べます。Maiasa, gohan o tabemasu.I eat rice every morning.
- 一人でご飯を食べます。Hitori de gohan o tabemasu.I eat rice alone.
Example conversation
Hina and Ren are discussing their dinner plans.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、もうお腹が空いた？Ren-kun, mō onaka ga suita?Ren, are you hungry already?
- 蓮 Renうん、すごく空いたよ。Un, sugoku suita yo.Yeah, I'm starving.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、一緒にご飯を食べます。Jā, issho ni gohan o tabemasu.Then, I will eat rice together with you.
- 蓮 Renいいですね。行きましょう。Ii desu ne. Ikimashō.That sounds good. Let's go.
