{"id":107570,"date":"2023-04-21T02:24:09","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T06:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/vegetables-in-japanese\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T01:55:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T06:55:28","slug":"vegetables-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/vegetables-in-japanese\/","title":{"rendered":"30 Common (and Uncommon) Vegetables in Japanese"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you’re cooking, shopping, or dining out in Japan, being familiar with vegetables in Japanese ensures smoother communication and a better understanding of local cuisine. Plus, it helps in making healthier food choices by recognizing different vegetables and their benefits.<\/p>\n

Here we’ll run through 30 vegetables in Japanese, plus the unique ways they’re eaten by Japanese folks all the time.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

Common Vegetables Names in Japan<\/h2>\n

These are the basic vegetable terms for those tasty greens you\u2019ll shop for weekly.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll notice that you can write them in one or more ways: in Hiragana, Katakana<\/a> and or Kanji.<\/p>\n

Generally, the vegetables written in Katakana by default are non-native to Japan, and they\u2019re given transliterations of their foreign names.<\/p>\n

We all know how hard it is to learn and memorize Kanji<\/a>, so no worries about nailing the Kanji characters right away. You can expect most Japanese supermarkets and recipes to write out the vegetables in Hiragana or Katakana.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. \u30a2\u30fc\u30c6\u30a3\u30c1\u30e7\u30fc\u30af \u2014 Artichoke<\/h3>\n

2. \u3082\u3084\u3057 \u2014 (Mung) Bean Sprouts<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30e2\u30e4\u30b7 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u840c\u3084\u3057 <\/p>\n

3. \u30d4\u30fc\u30de\u30f3 \u2014 Bell Pepper<\/h3>\n

4. \u30d6\u30ed\u30c3\u30b3\u30ea \u2014 Broccoli<\/h3>\n

5. \u30ad\u30e3\u30d9\u30c4 \u2014 (Western) Cabbage<\/h3>\n

6. \u306b\u3093\u3058\u3093 \u2014 Carrot<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30cb\u30f3\u30b8\u30f3 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u4eba\u53c2 <\/p>\n

7. \u306f\u306a\u3084\u3055\u3044 \u2014 Cauliflower<\/h3>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u82b1\u91ce\u83dc <\/p>\n

You may also say \u30ab\u30ea\u30d5\u30e9\u30ef\u30fc<\/p>\n

8. \u3068\u3046\u304c\u3089\u3057 \u2014 Chili Pepper<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30c8\u30a6\u30ac\u30e9\u30b7 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u5510\u8f9b\u5b50 <\/p>\n

9. \u3068\u3046\u3082\u308d\u3053\u3057 \u2014 Corn<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30c8\u30a6\u30e2\u30ed\u30b3\u30b7 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u7389\u8700\u9ecd <\/p>\n

10. \u304d\u3085\u3046\u308a \u2014 Cucumber<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30ad\u30e5\u30a6\u30ea <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u80e1\u74dc <\/p>\n

11. \u306a\u3059 \u2014 Eggplant<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30ca\u30b9 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u8304\u5b50 <\/p>\n

12. \u306b\u3093\u306b\u304f \u2014 Garlic<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30cb\u30f3\u30cb\u30af <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u5927\u849c <\/p>\n

13. \u3057\u3087\u3046\u304c \u2014 Ginger<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30b7\u30e7\u30a6\u30ac <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u751f\u59dc <\/p>\n

14. \u30ec\u30bf\u30b9 \u2014 Lettuce<\/h3>\n

15. \u304d\u306e\u3053 \u2014 Mushroom<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30ad\u30ce\u30b3 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u8338\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

16. \u30aa\u30cb\u30aa\u30f3 \u2014 Onion<\/h3>\n

You can also say \u7389\u306d\u304e <\/p>\n

17. \u3058\u3083\u304c\u3044\u3082 \u2014 Potato<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30b8\u30e3\u30ac\u30a4\u30e2 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u3058\u3083\u304c\u828b <\/p>\n

You can also say \u30dd\u30c6\u30c8 <\/p>\n

18. \u304b\u307c\u3061\u3083 \u2014 Pumpkin<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30ab\u30dc\u30c1\u30e3 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u5357\u74dc <\/p>\n

19. \u3060\u3044\u3053\u3093 \u2014 Radish<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30c0\u30a4\u30b3\u30f3 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u5927\u6839 <\/p>\n

20. \u307b\u3046\u308c\u3093\u305d\u3046 \u2014 Spinach<\/h3>\n

Katakana:<\/strong> \u30db\u30a6\u30ec\u30f3\u30bd\u30a6 <\/p>\n

Kanji:<\/strong> \u83e0\u8590\u8349 <\/p>\n

21. \u30c8\u30de\u30c8 \u2014 Tomato<\/h3>\n

Unique Vegetables in Japan<\/h2>\n

Certain vegetables are especially used in authentic Japanese cuisine<\/a>, and you\u2019ll probably have a hard time finding them in a non-Japanese outlet.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the special gems you should absolutely try out to give your meals a lovely Japanese twist!<\/p>\n

22. \u306f\u304f\u3055\u3044 \u2014 Napa Cabbage<\/h3>\n

\"Vegetables<\/p>\n

Katakana: <\/strong>\u30cf\u30af\u30b5\u30a4 <\/p>\n

Kanji: <\/strong>\u767d\u83dc <\/p>\n

Originating from Chinathe, \u306f\u304f\u3055\u3044 has large long leaves.<\/p>\n

The “napa” part in Japanese is written \u83dc\u3063\u8449 (\u306a\u3063\u3071) and is thought to mean \u201cleaves of vegetable.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Japan, this cabbage is eaten in various ways: raw, stewed, pickled, fried or boiled.<\/p>\n

As for me, I use Napa cabbage almost exclusively to make Korean kimchi<\/a> (\u30ad\u30e0\u30c1 in Japanese). My favorite parts are the crunchy green leaf tops\u2014they have the best texture and taste!<\/p>\n

23. \u3060\u3044\u3053\u3093 \u2014 Japanese Radish<\/h3>\n

\"vegetables<\/a><\/p>\n

Katakana: <\/strong>\u30c0\u30a4\u30b3\u30f3 <\/p>\n

Kanji: <\/strong>\u5927\u6839 <\/p>\n

\u3060\u3044\u3053\u3093 is the general term for radish, but the radish that Japanese folks normally consume is a hefty specimen.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s much larger than a typical radish, with a sweetish and somewhat spicy taste.<\/p>\n

While it can be sliced and eaten raw, daikon radish tastes amazing in soup-based dishes. I love to chop it up, toss it in oden fish cake stew, or grate and mix it with soba broth.<\/p>\n

24. \u3055\u3064\u307e\u3044\u3082 \u2014 Sweet Potato<\/h3>\n

\"vegetables<\/a><\/p>\n

Katakana: <\/strong>\u30b5\u30c4\u30de\u30a4\u30e2 <\/p>\n

Kanji: <\/strong>\u85a9\u6469\u828b <\/p>\n

As a sweet potato fanatic, I have no qualms in saying that the Asian sweet potato variants are leaps and bounds better than Western ones.<\/p>\n

This sweet potato is one of my favorites. It has purplish skin and bright yellow flesh with a delicious, slightly nutty taste.<\/p>\n

They taste fantastic when roasted over a fire and make a perfect filling snack, especially in colder weather.<\/p>\n

You can even check out this entertaining Japanese video<\/a> on FluentU<\/a> where native speakers discuss how delicious \u3055\u3064\u307e\u3044\u3082 is.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

\r\n