食感(しょっかん)

しょっかん
noun
texture (of food); mouthfeel
food
1. texture of food; mouthfeel; how food feels when eating
The tactile sensations experienced when eating food, including crunchiness, chewiness, smoothness, etc.
このクッキーは食感(しょっかん)がサクサクしている。
These cookies have a crispy texture.
食感(しょっかん)を楽(たの)しむために生(なま)で食(た)べる。
I eat it raw to enjoy the texture.
もちもちした食感(しょっかん)が特徴(とくちょう)です。
Its characteristic is the chewy, springy texture.
天(てん)ぷらはサクサクの食感(しょっかん)が命(いのち)だから、揚(あ)げたてを食(た)べるのが一番(いちばん)だ。
Crispy texture is everything for tempura, so eating it freshly fried is best.
この料理(りょうり)は野菜(やさい)のシャキシャキした食感(しょっかん)と肉(にく)の柔(やわ)らかさのバランスが絶妙(ぜつみょう)だ。
This dish has a perfect balance between the crisp crunch of the vegetables and the tenderness of the meat.

食感(しょっかん) combines 食(しょく) (eating) and 感(かん) (sensation): how food feels in the mouth, as distinct from how it tastes. Japanese food writing treats texture as a dimension of quality in its own right, so the word is everywhere in reviews, packaging, and cooking programs.

Common texture words

  • サクサク (crispy, crunchy — dry foods)
  • カリカリ (crunchy, crisp — fried foods)
  • もちもち (chewy, springy — rice, mochi)
  • ふわふわ (fluffy, soft — bread, cakes)
  • とろとろ (melty, creamy)
  • しっとり (moist)
  • プリプリ (bouncy, firm — shrimp, seafood)

Similar words

  • 舌触(したざわ)り: how food feels specifically on the tongue
  • 歯応(はごた)え: resistance when biting, one component of 食感(しょっかん)
  • 食感(しょっかん) is the general term covering all of these mouthfeel sensations

Related Words

Related: 舌触(したざわ)り (mouthfeel on the tongue)
Related: 歯応(はごた)え (chewiness)
Compare: 口当(くちあ)たり (mouthfeel)
Homophone: 触感(しょっかん) (sense of touch)
Compare: 歯触(はざわ)り (texture (of food))
core
Added 2026.1.18 12:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
06500/06636_shokkan