夕食
yūshoku[jɯ̟ːɕo̞kɯ̟]
Supper in Japanese is 夕食 (yūshoku).
The term refers to dinner at night. While 夕食 is a standard term, there are several other ways to refer to an evening meal depending on the situation. 晩餐 holds a similar meaning of an evening meal or supper. For a popular way to say supper among friends and family members, you can use 晩ごはん. Among peers or younger individuals, 夜ごはん is used in a more informal context.
Meaning: dinner at night (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 夕食 consists of 夕 (evening) and 食 (meal/eat).
Which one should you use?
夕食 is the standard term, whereas 晩御飯 (bangohan) is much more common in daily conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
夕食 is more formal and is often used in written contexts or polite speech compared to daily spoken alternatives. For informal settings, 晩ごはん is popular among friends and family, while 夜ごはん is used in more informal contexts among peers or younger people.
How do you pronounce it?
yūshoku
Did you know?
- The phrase いただきます (itadakimasu) is almost always said before starting 夕食. It literally means 'I humbly receive', acknowledging the plants, animals and people involved in the meal.
- If you use the term 晩餐 (bansan) to describe a casual supper with friends, people might think you are describing a royal banquet or a high-society gala.
- The word 飯 (han) in 晩ごはん (bangohan) originally referred to cooked rice, which was the staple foundation of almost every traditional Japanese meal.
Examples in context
- 夕食ができたよ。Supper is ready.This sentence is useful for saying that the 夕食 is ready.Tatoeba #79116 by bunbuku, translation #3060760 by sharptoothed
- 夕食は何時ですか。What time do you have supper?This sentence is useful for asking what time someone has 夕食.Tatoeba #79087 by bunbuku, translation #324630 by jakov
- 夕食の時間ですよ。It's supper time.This sentence is useful for stating that it is 夕食 time.Tatoeba #79098 by bunbuku, translation #3733132 by CK
- 晩ご飯を食べましょう (Bangohan o tabemashou)Let's have supper
- 晩ごはん、食べませんか？(Ban gohan, tabemasen ka?)Won't you have supper?
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is discussing their evening plans at home.
- 大翔 Hiroto今日の夕食は何にする？kyō no yūshoku wa nani ni suru?What are we having for supper today?
- 陽葵 Himariカレーにしようかな。karē ni shiyō kana.I think I'll go with curry.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいよ、陽葵の好きなやつだね。ii yo, Himari no suki na yatsu dane.Sounds good, it's your favorite, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、大翔、材料を買ってきて！jaa, Hiroto, zairyō o katte kite!Then, Hiroto, go buy the ingredients!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “supper” translations and entries 夕食, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
