ご飯
gohan
In Japanese, steamed rice is called ご飯 (gohan).
ご飯 refers to rice that has been cooked by steaming or boiling. It is also frequently used to mean a general meal, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner.
What does it mean word for word?
The go prefix in ご飯 is an honorific prefix used to show respect to the food or the meal itself.
Which one should you use?
Use 米 to refer to raw, uncooked grains, whereas ご飯 refers specifically to the cooked rice.
How do you pronounce it?
gohan
Did you know?
- The honorific prefix ご in ご飯 is a remnant of a time when rice was considered a sacred gift from the gods and a luxury for the elite.
- Japanese has a specific word, おかず, for the side dishes that accompany ご飯. While ご飯 can mean 'meal', おかず specifically refers to the items eaten to make the rice go down.
- In Japan, it is common to say ご飯 to mean 'meal' regardless of whether rice is actually served. You might use ご飯 to describe a dinner consisting entirely of pasta or bread.
Examples in context
- 温かいご飯が食べたいです。Atatakai gohan ga tabetai desu.I want to eat warm steamed rice.
- 毎朝、ご飯を炊きます。Maiasa, gohan o takimasu.I cook steamed rice every morning.
- ご飯はおいしいですか？Gohan wa oishii desu ka?Is the rice delicious?
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daisho are preparing for dinner.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くん、ご飯は炊いた？Daisho-kun, gohan wa taita?Daisho, did you cook the steamed rice?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、もうできているよ。Un, mou dekite iru yo.Yeah, it's already done.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。お手伝いするね。Arigatou. Otetsudai suru ne.Thanks. I'll help you.
- 大翔 Hirotoお願い。お皿に盛って。Onegai. Osara ni moratte.Please. Put it on the plates.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ご飯, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
