Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 昼ご飯 | hirugohan | [çiɾɯ̟ ɡo̞hã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 昼食 | chūshoku | [t͡ɕɨːɕo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 昼飯 | hirumeshi | [çiɾɯ̟me̞ɕi] (narrow) [çiɾɯ̟hã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 昼餉 | hiruge | |
| ランチ | ranchi | [ɾã̠ɲ̟t͡ɕi] (narrow) |
The term refers to a meal around midday.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 昼ご飯 (hirugohan) is composed of 昼 (hiru) meaning 'midday' and ご飯 (gohan) meaning 'cooked rice' or 'meal'.
Which one should you use?
昼ご飯 (hirugohan) is the standard, polite way to say 'lunch' in daily conversation. ランチ (ranchi) is the katakana loanword from English 'lunch' and is frequently used in the context of restaurant menus or 'lunch sets' (ランチセット). 昼飯 (hirumeshi) is a colloquial and somewhat rough way to say 'lunch'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
昼食 (chūshoku) is more formal and often used in written contexts or official schedules. 昼飯 (hirumeshi) is a colloquial and somewhat rough way to say 'lunch', often used by men in casual settings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 昼食をとる (chūshoku o toru) is a formal way to express the action of 'having/taking lunch'.
How do you pronounce it?
hirugohan
Did you know?
- In Japanese offices, the 'lunch hour' is often seen as a vital social bonding time, and eating with colleagues is a common cultural expectation.
- Many Japanese people eat a 弁当 (bento), a portable lunch box, which is a distinct cultural phenomenon with its own complex etiquette.
- The archaic term 昼餉 (hiruge) is a much more historical and literary way to refer to a midday meal compared to modern Japanese.
Examples in context
- 昼食にしよう！Let's have lunch.This sentence is useful for suggesting that it is time to have 昼食.Tatoeba #9489134 by small_snow, translation #64175 by CK
- 昼食後は暇よ。I'm free after lunch.This sentence is useful for describing your availability after 昼食.Tatoeba #11193533 by small_snow, translation #11193518 by sundown
- 昼食を食べよう。Let's eat lunch.This sentence is useful for suggesting the action of eating 昼食.Tatoeba #126378 by small_snow, translation #277613 by CK
- 今日の昼めしは何にする？What are you having for lunch today?
- 今日は何をランチに食べる？What are you eating for lunch today?
- 274 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking in the office during a break.
- 結衣 Yui今日の昼ご飯、何にする？Kyō no hirugohan, nani ni suru?What are you having for lunch today?
- 蓮 Renコンビニでお弁当を買うよ。Konbini de obentō o kau yo.I'll buy a lunch box at the convenience store.
- 結衣 Yuiいいね。私も一緒に買う。Ii ne. Watashi mo issho ni kau.That sounds good. I'll buy one too.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、一緒に行こうか。Jā, issho ni ikō ka.Then, shall we go together?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lunch” translations and entries 昼ご飯, 昼食, 昼飯, ランチ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
