ピーナツ
pīnatsu[pʲiːna̠t͡sɨ]
The English word peanut is translated into Japanese as ピーナツ (pīnatsu) or 落花生.
Meaning: a legume resembling a nut (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ピーナツ | pīnatsu | [pʲiːna̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 落花生 | rakkasei | [ɾa̠k̚ka̠se̞ː] (narrow) |
In Japanese, you can refer to this legume using either the loanword ピーナツ or the native term 落花生.
Which one should you use?
ピーナツ is a loanword derived from English, while 落花生 is the native Japanese term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ピーナツ is more common in casual conversation and on food packaging. In contrast, 落花生 is often used in more formal or botanical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
pīnatsu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 落花生 literally translates to 'fallen flower birth', describing how the flower stem bends down to push the seed into the soil.
- Japan has a specific variety of peanut called 千葉落花生 from Chiba Prefecture, which is treated as a premium regional brand similar to high-end fruit.
- The word 落花生 is borrowed from the Chinese phrase 'luòhuāshēng'.
Examples in context
- トムが本当に食べたかったのは、ピーナツバターサンドだったんだ。What Tom really wanted was a peanut butter sandwich.This sentence shows how to use ピーナツ in the context of food.Tatoeba #11609991 by small_snow, translation #1898024 by CK
- ピーナッツは大好物です。I love peanuts.
- 子供の頃、庭で落花生を探して遊んだことがあります。When I was a child, I used to play by searching for peanuts in the garden.
- 袋の中にピーナツが入っている。Fukuro no naka ni piinatsu ga haitte iru.There are peanuts inside the bag.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are looking at a menu at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiこのケーキにピーナツは入っていますか？kono kēki ni pīnatsu wa haitte imasu ka?Are there peanuts in this cake?
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、入っていないと思います。iie, haitte inai to omoimasu.No, I don't think there are.
- 美咲 Misakiよかった。ピーナツが苦手なんです。yokatta. pīnatsu ga nigate nan desu.Thank goodness. I'm not fond of peanuts.
- 陽太 Yotaそうなんですね。別のものを選びましょう。sō nan desu ne. betsu no mono o erabimashō.I see. Let's choose something else.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peanut” translations and entries ピーナツ, 落花生, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 落花生, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
