Translation guide
How to talk about ingredients in Japanese, from cooking to product labels.
Referring to the items used to make a dish.
The most common word for ingredients in cooking. Covers everything you need to prepare a dish.
カレーの材料を買ってきた。
I bought the ingredients for curry.
この料理は材料が少なくて簡単です。
This dish is easy because it uses few ingredients.
Specifically refers to solid ingredients in soups, stews, or mixed dishes like pizza toppings.
味噌汁の具材は豆腐とわかめです。
The ingredients in the miso soup are tofu and wakame seaweed.
The list of components in a packaged food or product.
Used for ingredients listed on food labels, cosmetics, etc. Often seen as 原材料名.
原材料を確認してください。
Please check the ingredients.
このお菓子の原材料は小麦粉、砂糖、卵です。
The ingredients of this snack are flour, sugar, and eggs.
Refers to components or constituents, often used for nutritional or chemical ingredients.
Highlighting the most important ingredient in a dish.
Literally 'leading role', used figuratively for the star ingredient.
今日のパスタの主役は旬のトマトです。
The star ingredient of today's pasta is seasonal tomatoes.
A straightforward way to say 'main ingredient'.
メインの食材は鶏肉です。
The main ingredient is chicken.
A special ingredient that makes a dish unique.
Literally 'hidden flavor', a small amount of an ingredient added to enhance taste without being obvious.
隠し味に醤油を少し入れます。
I add a little soy sauce as a secret ingredient.
Direct translation of 'secret ingredient', often used in casual contexts.
このソースの秘密の材料は何ですか？
What's the secret ingredient in this sauce?
材料 is the general term for cooking ingredients. 原材料 is for listed ingredients on packages. 具材 refers to solid bits in soups or mixed dishes.
材料を切る。
Chop the ingredients.
原材料名：小麦粉、砂糖。
Ingredients: flour, sugar.
鍋の具材を準備する。
Prepare the ingredients for the hot pot.
化粧品の成分を調べる。
Check the ingredients of cosmetics.