1.
sweets, snacks, confections
Sweet foods or snacks; includes candy, cookies, cakes, etc.
お菓子を買う。
To buy snacks.
お菓子が好きです。
I like sweets.
お土産にお菓子をもらった。
I received sweets as a souvenir.
子供たちにお菓子をあげた。
I gave the children snacks.
この店のお菓子はとても人気がある。
The sweets at this shop are very popular.
お菓子 is a general term for sweets, snacks, and confections.
CATEGORIES:
- 和菓子: traditional Japanese sweets
- 洋菓子: Western-style sweets
- 駄菓子: cheap candy (nostalgic treats)
- 生菓子: fresh confections
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- お菓子を作る: to make sweets
- お菓子屋: confectionery shop
- 手作りのお菓子: homemade sweets
- お菓子作り: making sweets
USAGE NOTE:
The お prefix (honorific) is commonly used but can be dropped: 菓子. In compounds, お is usually omitted: 和菓子, 菓子折 (box of sweets).