ライチ
raichi[ɾa̠it͡ɕi]
The English word lychee is said in Japanese as ライチ (raichi). If unsure, use ライチ. Wiktionary also lists 茘枝 (reishi).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ライチ | raichi | [ɾa̠it͡ɕi] (narrow) |
| 茘枝 | reishi | [ɾe̞ːɕi] (narrow) |
The word refers to the lychee fruit. You can use it to describe the fruit's flavor, such as saying ライチは甘酸っぱい味がします to mean "Lychees have a sweet and sour taste," or to describe flavors in treats like ライチアイスクリーム (lychee ice cream).
Which one should you use?
The kanji form 茘枝 (reishi) also exists.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ライチ is the most common way to refer to the fruit in daily conversation and on food packaging.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express your preference, you can say ライチが好きです (I like lychees) or ask someone else with ライチは好きですか？ (Do you like lychees?).
How do you pronounce it?
raichi
Did you know?
- The word ライチ is a double loanword, having traveled from Cantonese to English and then back into Japanese.
- In Japanese, the kanji 茘枝 is so rare that it is often classified as a 'hyōgai' character, meaning it falls outside the list of characters taught in compulsory education.
- While ライチ is the standard term, the kanji 茘枝 is read as reishi, a pronunciation completely different from the common katakana version.
Examples in context
- チロは猫だから、ライチが好きじゃありません。Since Chiro is a cat, he doesn't like lychee.This sentence uses ライチ to show a preference in a specific context.Tatoeba #988142 by bunbuku, translation #991387 by Artfanster
- ライチとかマンゴーとかそういうのが好きです。The kind of things I like are lychee and mango.This sentence uses ライチ as part of a list of liked items.Tatoeba #10141111 by small_snow, translation #10787061 by tsp_2
- 私はライチが大好きです。I love lychees.
- 昨日、高級なレストランでライチのデザートを食べました。Yesterday, I had a lychee dessert at a fancy restaurant.
- このライチはとても甘いですね。Kono raichi wa totemo amai desu ne.This lychee is very sweet, isn't it?
Example conversation
Himari and Youta are looking at fruit at a market.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、ライチを食べてみない？Youta, raichi o tabete minai?Youta, do you want to try some lychee?
- 陽太 Yotaいいですね。ぜひ食べたいです。ii desu ne. zehi tabetai desu.That sounds good. I'd love to.
- 陽葵 Himariここにあるライチは新鮮そうだよ。koko ni aru raichi wa shinsen sou da yo.The lychees here look fresh.
- 陽太 Yota本当だ。いくつか買って帰ろう。hontou da. ikutsuka katte kaerou.You're right. Let's buy a few and go home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lychee” translations and entries ライチ, 茘枝, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ライチ, 茘枝, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
