匙(さじ)

さじ
noun
spoon
1. spoon
A utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl on a handle, used for eating, stirring, or measuring.
大(おお)匙(さじ)一杯(いっぱい)の砂糖(さとう)を入(い)れてください。
Please add one tablespoon of sugar.
小(こ)匙(さじ)で薬(くすり)を測(はか)る。
Measure the medicine with a teaspoon.
医者(いしゃ)は匙(さじ)を投(な)げた。
The doctor gave up (on the patient).
[Note: 匙(さじ)を投(な)げる means 'to throw in the towel, to give up' (originally from doctors giving up on treatment)]
塩(しお)は小(こ)匙(さじ)半分(はんぶん)ぐらいでいい。
About half a teaspoon of salt is enough.
料理(りょうり)は匙(さじ)加減(かげん)が大事(だいじ)で、少(すこ)しの差(さ)で味(あじ)が変(か)わってしまう。
In cooking, the adjustment of amounts is important — even a small difference can change the flavor.

匙(さじ) is a traditional word for spoon. In modern Japanese, スプーン is more commonly used for Western-style spoons, while 匙(さじ) is used in cooking measurements and traditional contexts.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 大(おお)匙(さじ) (tablespoon, approx. 15ml)
  • 小(こ)匙(さじ) (teaspoon, approx. 5ml)
  • 匙(さじ)を投(な)げる (to give up, to throw in the towel)
  • 匙(さじ)加減(かげん) (seasoning to taste, adjusting amounts)

NOTE: The kanji 匙(さじ) is often written in hiragana in recipes.

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Added 2026.1.13 10:47 · Revised 2026.3.2 11:28
03500/03886_saji