スープ
sūpu[sɨːpɯ̟]
In Japanese, the word for soup can be expressed as スープ (sūpu) or 汁.
Meaning: dish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| スープ | sūpu | [sɨːpɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 汁 | shiru | [ɕiɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different words for soup depending on whether the dish is Western-style or traditional Japanese style. スープ is used for Western-style soups, while 汁 is used for traditional Japanese soups, liquid, broth or juice.
Which one should you use?
The katakana form スープ is a loanword typically used for Western-style dishes such as cream soup or consommé. The native Japanese word 汁 is used for traditional Japanese soups or when referring more generally to a broth or juice.
How do you pronounce it?
sūpu
When do people say it?
When referring to specific dishes, Japanese uses compound words. For example, miso soup is called 味噌汁 (miso-shiru) and ramen soup is called ラーメンスープ.
Did you know?
- While スープ is for Western styles, traditional 汁 dishes like 味噌汁 are typically served without a spoon and are drunk directly from the bowl.
- The kanji for 汁 is also used in the word for 'tears', illustrating how the concept of 'liquid' is shared across different bodily and culinary functions.
- In Japanese, the word 汁 can also be used to refer to 'juice' or 'sap' from plants, moving far beyond the kitchen and into biology.
Examples in context
- スープはどう？How's the soup?This sentence shows how to ask about the quality of the スープ.Tatoeba #10201091 by small_snow, translation #9798436 by shekitten
- スープはいかが？Would you like some soup?This sentence shows how to offer スープ to someone.Tatoeba #8729105 by small_snow, translation #6074385 by CK
- スープ美味しい？Do you like the soup?This sentence shows how to ask if someone enjoys the スープ.Tatoeba #9525657 by small_snow, translation #9525659 by sundown
- この汁は美味しいね。This soup is delicious, isn't it?
- 123 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are having lunch at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiこのスープ、すごく温かいね。Kono suupu, sugoku atatakai ne.This soup is very warm.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ。体に染み渡るね。Hontou da. Karada ni shimivataru ne.You're right. It's so soothing for the body.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔君は、具は何が好き？Hiroto-kun wa, gu wa nani ga suki?Hiroto, what kind of ingredients do you like in it?
- 大翔 Hiroto僕は野菜たっぷりのスープが好きだよ。Boku wa yasai tappuri no suupu ga suki da yo.I like soup with lots of vegetables.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soup” translations and entries スープ, 汁, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
