ナッツ
nattsu[na̠t̚t͡sɨ]
In Japanese, 'nut' can be translated as ナッツ (nattsu), 木の実 or 堅果 depending on the context.
Meaning: hard-shelled fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ナッツ | nattsu | [na̠t̚t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 堅果 | kenka | [kẽ̞ŋka̠] (narrow) |
| 木の実 | ki no mi | [kʲino̞mʲi] (narrow) [ko̞no̞mʲi] (narrow) |
The term for nut varies significantly based on whether you are discussing food, nature or science.
Which one should you use?
ナッツ is the most common way to refer to edible nuts in a culinary context, such as when discussing snacks or ingredients. 木の実 is a broader, more natural term used to describe nuts or fruits that grow on trees, often used in nature or general conversation. 堅果 is a technical or botanical term for a hard-shelled fruit and is rarely used in everyday conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
nattsu
Did you know?
- If you were to ask for 'nuts' in a hardware store instead of a grocery store, you would likely be directed to the mechanical-sounding ナット instead of the edible ナッツ.
- Although translated as 'nut', the Japanese word for peanut, 落花生 (rakkashei), literally means 'dropping seed plant' because the pods develop underground.
- In Japanese, chestnuts are often treated as a separate category from other nuts and are referred to as 栗 (kuri) rather than using the general term ナッツ.
Examples in context
- リスが木の実を食べています。The squirrel is eating a nut.This sentence illustrates the use of 木の実 to describe what a squirrel is eating.Tatoeba #10495843 by small_snow, translation #8345926 by Cxom
- デーツ・ナッツ・ブレッドって、食べたことある？Have you ever eaten date nut bread?This sentence shows how ナッツ is used when discussing food like date nut bread.Tatoeba #10657839 by small_snow, translation #8733292 by AlanF_US
- このナッツはすごく美味しいです。Kono nattsu wa sugoku oishii desu.These nuts are very delicious.
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are eating snacks at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui陽太君、このナッツ食べる？Yota-kun, kono nattsu taberu?Yota, do you want some of these nuts?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、ありがとう。大好きだよ。Un, arigatou. Daisuki da yo.Yeah, thanks. I love them.
- 結衣 Yui塩味がちょうどいいよね。Shioaji ga choudo ii yo ne.The saltiness is just right, isn't it?
- 陽太 Yota本当に。おつまみに最高だね。Hontou ni. Otsumami ni saikou da ne.Really. They are perfect as a snack for drinks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nut” translations and entries ナッツ, 堅果, 木の実, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
