ご飯少なめ
gohan sukuname
In Japanese, "less rice" is expressed as ご飯少なめ (gohan sukuname).
The phrase ご飯少なめ is commonly used at fast-food chains or casual eateries (like beef bowl shops) where you can specify your portion size.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 'gohan' (rice/meal) and 'sukuname' (a slightly less/smaller amount).
Which one should you use?
While ご飯少なめ means a smaller portion, ご飯抜き means 'no rice' or 'without rice'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 'de' to the end makes it a natural way to phrase the request when ordering at a restaurant, meaning 'with less rice, please'.
How do you pronounce it?
gohan sukuname
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the act of requesting 少なめ is often tied to the concept of mottainai, an expression of regret when something is wasted.
- The word ご飯 comes from 御飯, where 御 is a prefix used to show respect to the food or the person being served.
- The suffix め in 少なめ acts as a softener, turning a blunt adjective into a more polite and 'nuanced' request suitable for service staff.
Examples in context
- ご飯少なめでお願いします。gohan sukuname de onegaishimasu.Less rice, please.
- 今日はご飯少なめで食べます。kyou wa gohan sukuname de tabemasu.I will eat a smaller portion of rice today.
- ご飯少なめでもいいですか？gohan sukuname demo ii desu ka?Is it okay to have less rice?
Example conversation
At a casual lunch counter.
- 陽葵 Himariすみません、ご飯少なめでお願いします。sumimasen, gohan sukuname de onegaishimasu.Excuse me, less rice, please.
- 大翔 Hirotoかしこまりました。こちらでお待ちください。kashikomarimashita. kochira de omachi kudasai.Understood. Please wait here.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
- 大翔 Hirotoお待たせいたしました。omatase itashimashita.Thank you for waiting.
