ご飯(はん)

ごはん
noun
rice; meal
politefood
1. cooked rice
Steamed white rice, the staple food of Japan. Served with most Japanese meals.
ご飯(はん)が好(す)きです。
I like rice.
ご飯(はん)がおいしいです。
The rice is delicious.
ご飯(はん)をもう一(いっ)杯(ぱい)ください。
Please give me another bowl of rice.
日本人(にほんじん)は毎日(まいにち)ご飯(はん)を食(た)べます。
Japanese people eat rice every day.
ご飯(はん)がなくなったから、買(か)いに行(い)かなければなりません。米(こめ)も買(か)おう。
We ran out of rice, so I have to go buy some. I'll buy uncooked rice too.
2. meal, food
More broadly refers to a meal or food in general. Often used to mean breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
ご飯(はん)を食(た)べましたか。
Have you eaten (a meal)?
Common greeting to check if someone has eaten
朝(あさ)ご飯(はん)は何(なに)を食(た)べましたか。
What did you eat for breakfast?
ご飯(はん)の前(まえ)に手(て)を洗(あら)いましょう。
Let's wash our hands before the meal.
一緒(いっしょ)にご飯(はん)を食(た)べませんか。
Would you like to have a meal together?
今日(きょう)の晩(ばん)ご飯(はん)は何(なに)にしようか。カレーが食(た)べたいな。一緒(いっしょ)に作(つく)ろう。
What should we have for dinner tonight? I want to eat curry. Let's make it together.

ご飯(はん) is one of the most essential words in Japanese, with two related meanings.

USAGE (sense 1, cooked rice):
The staple food of Japan, served with most meals.

USAGE (sense 2, meal):
Refers to any meal, especially when combined with time words.

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  • ご飯(はん): polite (honorific ご prefix)
  • 飯(めし): casual/masculine
  • 米(こめ): uncooked rice (different word)

Cultural note

「ご飯(はん)を食(た)べましたか」is a common greeting meaning 'Have you eaten?'

Related Words

Compare: 飯(めし) (casual/masculine)
Related: 米(こめ) (uncooked rice)
Related: 食事(しょくじ) (meal (formal))
Compare: ライス (rice on plate (Western-style))
Related: 白米(はくまい) (white rice)
Related: 炊飯(すいはん) (rice cooking)
Related: 親子丼(おやこどん) (oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl))
Related: 稲(いね) (rice plant, rice crop)
Related: 炭水化物(たんすいかぶつ) (carbohydrate)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:41 · Revised 2026.10.11 4:53
00500/00776_gohan