ミント
minto[mʲĩnto̞]
In Japanese, the English word "mint" (the plant) is most commonly expressed as ミント (minto). If unsure, use ミント. Wiktionary also lists 薄荷 (hakka).
Meaning: plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ミント | minto | [mʲĩnto̞] (narrow) |
| 薄荷 | hakka | [ha̠k̚ka̠] (narrow) |
ミント is the standard way to refer to the plant, its scent or its flavor, particularly in culinary contexts like "mint chocolate." While ミント is the go-to term for food and drinks, you may also encounter 薄荷 in specific settings.
Which one should you use?
ミント is the katakana form used most frequently in everyday conversation, especially when talking about food and beverages. In contrast, 薄荷 is a kanji-based form used for more formal, technical or botanical purposes, such as on medicinal packaging or product labels.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
minto
Did you know?
- In Japan, 'mint chocolate' is often shortened to チョコミント 'choco-mint' and has a dedicated fan base that celebrates 'Mint Chocolate Day' on July 11th.
- The character 薄 in 薄荷 literally means 'thin' or 'sparse', which is a surprising visual descriptor for a fragrant herb.
- While English uses 'mint' to mean both the plant and the place where coins are made, Japanese uses completely different words for these concepts. You would never use ミント or 薄荷 to refer to a currency mint.
Examples in context
- ミントティーは、苦手なのよ。I don't like mint tea.This sentence shows how to express a dislike for tea containing ミント.Tatoeba #10631798 by small_snow, translation #9937391 by AlanF_US
- ここではミントが育ちません。Mint doesn't grow here.This sentence describes the growth conditions of the plant ミント.Tatoeba #13569138 by small_snow, translation #12033587 by Ahha
- トムの息はミントの香りがした。Tom's breath smelled like mint.This sentence describes a scent associated with ミント.Tatoeba #10181636 by small_snow, translation #9365833 by DJ_Saidez
- ミントのガムを買いました。I bought mint gum.
- ハッカティーが好きでよく飲みます。I like peppermint tea and drink it often.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto and Misaki are at a cafe looking at the menu.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの飲み物にはミントが入っていますか？Kono nomimono ni wa minto ga haitte imasu ka?Does this drink have mint in it?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、新鮮なミントの葉が入っています。Hai, shinsenna minto no ha ga haitte imasu.Yes, it has fresh mint leaves in it.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいですね。それにしましょう。Ii desu ne. Sore ni shimashou.That sounds good. I'll have that.
- 美咲 Misakiわかりました。注文してきますね。Wakarimashita. Chuumon shite kimasu ne.Got it. I'll go order it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mint” translations and entries ミント, 薄荷, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
