具(ぐ)

具(ぐ) refers to the ingredients, fillings, or toppings in prepared foods.

Common collocations

• 味噌汁(みそしる)の具(ぐ): Miso soup ingredients (tofu, wakame, etc.)
• おにぎりの具(ぐ): Rice ball fillings (umeboshi, salmon, etc.)
• ラーメンの具(ぐ): Ramen toppings (chashu, egg, nori, etc.)
• 寿司(すし)の具(ぐ)/寿司(すし)ネタ: Sushi toppings
• 具(ぐ)だくさん (with lots of ingredients)
• 具(ぐ)を入(い)れる (to add ingredients)
• 具(ぐ)を変(か)える (to change the fillings)

Related words

• 具材(ぐざい): Ingredients (slightly more formal)
• ネタ: Toppings (slang, especially for sushi)
• トッピング: Toppings (loanword)

Cultural note

• Essential concept in Japanese home cooking
• The 具(ぐ) in 味噌汁(みそしる) varies by season and region
• Convenience stores offer onigiri with various 具(ぐ)

Usage

具(ぐ) is also used as a suffix meaning "tool" or "equipment" (e.g., 道具(どうぐ) tools, 家具(かぐ) furniture), but as a standalone word it primarily means food ingredients.

Register: Neutral. Common in everyday cooking and dining.