Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of 'sweets' is most commonly expressed with お菓子 (okashi), which covers snacks, candies, and confectioneries. The term is broad and context-dependent, so learners should choose based on formality, type, and situation.
Referring to sweets in a broad sense, including candy, chocolate, cakes, and traditional Japanese confections.
The default word for sweets, snacks, and confectionery. Polite with the prefix お. Used in daily conversation, shops, and menus.
お菓子を食べたい。
I want to eat some sweets.
このお菓子はとても美味しい。
These sweets are very delicious.
Same meaning as お菓子 but without the polite prefix. Used in compound words or formal contexts.
和菓子が好きです。
I like Japanese sweets.
Loanword from English, often used for Western-style desserts like cakes, pastries, and parfaits. Trendy and common in cafes and social media.
週末にスイーツを食べに行こう。
Let's go eat some sweets this weekend.
Literally 'sweet things'. A casual, descriptive way to refer to sweets. Often used when craving something sweet.
甘い物が食べたい。
I want something sweet.
Specifically 'dessert' after a meal. Not used for snacks between meals.
デザートは何にしますか。
What would you like for dessert?
Specifically referring to candy as a type of sweet, often individually wrapped or hard.
Specifically hard candy or lollipops. Can also refer to soft candies in some contexts.
飴をなめる。
I suck on a candy.
この飴はレモン味です。
This candy is lemon-flavored.
Loanword for candy, often used for Western-style candies or in product names.
Referring specifically to wagashi, traditional Japanese confections often served with tea.
Traditional Japanese sweets, often made from mochi, anko, and agar. Distinct from Western sweets.
和菓子は見た目も美しい。
Japanese sweets are beautiful to look at.
抹茶と和菓子をいただく。
I enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets.
Referring to packaged snacks like chips, cookies, or rice crackers, which may not be exclusively sweet.
Also covers savory snacks like potato chips and rice crackers. Context distinguishes sweet from savory.
お菓子の袋を開ける。
I open a bag of snacks.
Loanword for snack, often used for packaged snacks or light meals. Can also mean a snack bar (establishment).
Can also refer to a type of bar, so context is important.
お菓子 is the broadest term, covering all snacks and sweets. スイーツ is trendy and often implies Western-style desserts, while デザート specifically means the dessert course after a meal.
お菓子を買いにコンビニに行く。
I go to the convenience store to buy snacks.
カフェでスイーツを楽しむ。
I enjoy sweets at a cafe.
夕食後にデザートを食べる。
I eat dessert after dinner.
甘い物 is casual and may sound childish or overly informal in business settings. Stick to お菓子 or デザート when speaking politely.
キャンディーを一個どうぞ。
Have a piece of candy.
スナック菓子が好きです。
I like snack foods.