“Rice” in Japanese is ご飯 (ごはん), pronounced gohan.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Cooked rice, and also “meal” in general: 朝ご飯 is breakfast. Uncooked rice is 米 (kome), and on Western-style menus you’ll see ライス.
Example sentences
- ご飯を食べましょう。ごはんをたべましょう。Let’s eat.
- ご飯をおかわりしてもいいですか。ごはんをおかわりしてもいいですか。Can I have more rice?
Related forms
| Meaning | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| uncooked rice | 米 | こめ kome |
Quick practice
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Related words: Food & drink
FAQ
How do you say rice in Japanese?
Rice in Japanese is ご飯 (ごはん), pronounced “gohan”.
How do you write rice in Japanese?
It's written ご飯 with kanji, or ごはん in hiragana. Both are read gohan.
Is ご飯 on the JLPT?
Yes. ご飯 (gohan) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.