お菓子
okashi[o̞ka̠ɕi]
The English phrase "snack food" is translated into Japanese as お菓子 (okashi).
お菓子 is a broad term for snack foods. It covers a wide variety of items, including sweets, candies, cookies and even savory items like crackers or chips. Depending on the context, savory snacks such as potato chips might also be referred to as スナック菓子.
Meaning: food consumed as a snack between meals (noun)
Which one should you use?
While お菓子 is the general term for snacks, it is often used specifically to refer to sweets or treats, whereas savory snacks like potato chips might also be referred to as スナック菓子.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
By removing the honorific prefix "o-", you get 菓子, which is a more formal or technical term used in commercial or legal contexts. For a common, informal term for snack food, you can use おやつ. Additionally, つまみ is an informal term specifically for snacks enjoyed with alcoholic beverages.
How do you pronounce it?
okashi
Did you know?
- The word おやつ for a snack comes from the phrase 八つ時, which means 'the eighth hour' of the workday in traditional Japanese timekeeping.
- The term 和菓子 refers to traditional Japanese sweets, which are often designed to reflect the current season through their shape and color.
- In Japan, the term お菓子 is often used to describe gift-giving culture, where beautifully wrapped sets of snacks are given as seasonal tokens of gratitude rather than just for eating.
Examples in context
- Sumimasen, tsumami wa arimasu ka? (すみません、つまみはありますか？)Excuse me, do you have any snacks?
- Ano sutoriitofūdo oishii desu yo! (あのストリートフードおいしいですよ！)Those street snacks are delicious!
- あのお菓子はとても美味しいです。Ano okashi wa totemo oishii desu.That snack food is very delicious.
- 子供たちにお菓子をあげました。Kodomotachi ni okashi o agemashita.I gave snacks to the children.
- スーパーでお菓子を買います。Sūpā de okashi o kaimasu.I will buy some snack food at the supermarket.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about what to eat while watching a movie.
- 健太 Kenta何かお菓子を食べる？Nani ka okashi o taberu?Do you want to eat some snacks?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、甘いお菓子が食べたいです。Hai, amai okashi ga tabetai desu.Yes, I want to eat something sweet.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんの好きなチョコレートはある？Himari-san no suki na chokorēto wa aru?Is there a chocolate you like, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himariミルクチョコレートが好きです。Miruku chokorēto ga suki desu.I like milk chocolate.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お菓子, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
