チョコレート

ちょこれーと
noun
chocolate
informalfood
1. chocolate
A sweet food made from roasted and ground cacao beans, or confections made with chocolate.
チョコレート大好(だいす)
I love chocolate.
バレンタインチョコレートもらった
I received chocolate on Valentine's Day.
チョコレートケーキ()いた
I baked a chocolate cake.
Eating chocolate when I'm tired gives me energy.
I gave a box of chocolates as a present for my friend's birthday.

チョコレート is the standard Japanese word for chocolate, borrowed from English. Often shortened to チョコ in casual speech.

Types

  • ミルクチョコレート: milk chocolate
  • ビターチョコレート / ダークチョコレート: dark chocolate
  • ホワイトチョコレート: white chocolate
  • (なま)チョコ: raw/fresh chocolate (ganache-based)
  • (いた)チョコ: chocolate bar

Cultural note

Chocolate plays a special role in Japanese gift-giving culture:

  • バレンタインデー (Feb 14): Women give chocolate to men
  • 義理(ぎり)チョコ: obligatory chocolate (for coworkers, etc.)
  • 本命(ほんめい)チョコ: chocolate for someone you have romantic feelings for
  • (とも)チョコ: chocolate exchanged between friends
  • ホワイトデー (Mar 14): Men give return gifts

Common expressions