Translation guide
The English word 'pepper' covers two main things: the spice (black pepper) and the vegetable (bell pepper, chili pepper). Japanese uses different words for each, so it's important to know which one you mean.
Referring to the dried, ground spice used for seasoning.
The general word for pepper as a spice. Can refer to black or white pepper.
胡椒を少々加えてください。
Please add a little pepper.
このスープには胡椒が効いている。
This soup has a good pepper kick.
Specifically black pepper. Often used when distinguishing from white pepper or when referring to whole peppercorns.
ステーキには黒胡椒が合います。
Black pepper goes well with steak.
White pepper. Used in lighter-colored dishes for appearance or a milder flavor.
白胡椒は中華料理によく使われます。
White pepper is often used in Chinese cuisine.
Referring to the fresh, mild vegetable, usually green, red, or yellow.
The standard word for green bell pepper. Often used generically for bell peppers, but technically refers to the unripe green ones.
ピーマンを細切りにしてください。
Please cut the bell pepper into thin strips.
子供はピーマンが嫌いです。
Children dislike bell peppers.
Refers to the larger, sweeter, fully ripe bell peppers (red, yellow, orange). Also used for the spice paprika.
Chili pepper. Refers to hot peppers in general. Not for bell peppers.
Referring to the plant that produces peppercorns or the whole dried berries.
Peppercorn; the whole dried fruit of the pepper plant.
胡椒の実をミルで挽く。
Grind peppercorns in a mill.
The pepper plant itself. Rarely needed in daily conversation.
胡椒の木は熱帯地方で育ちます。
Pepper plants grow in tropical regions.
In Japanese, ピーマン usually means the small, green, slightly bitter bell pepper. パプリカ is the larger, sweeter, colorful one. If you ask for ピーマン in a store, you'll get green ones. For red or yellow, ask for パプリカ.
赤ピーマンはありますか？
Do you have red bell peppers? (might confuse staff)
赤パプリカはありますか？
Do you have red bell peppers? (correct)
If you want black pepper on your food, you can say 胡椒をください (Please give me pepper). Many places have pepper on the table, so you can just say 胡椒ありますか？ (Do you have pepper?).
赤パプリカは生でサラダに使えます。
Red bell peppers can be used raw in salads.
この唐辛子はとても辛いです。
This chili pepper is very hot.