蕎麦(そば)

そば
noun
soba; buckwheat noodles
food
See also: そば (beside, near (homophone))
1. soba; buckwheat noodles
Thin noodles made from buckwheat flour, served either chilled with a dipping sauce or in hot broth. One of the most iconic Japanese noodle dishes.
お昼(ひる)に蕎麦(そば)を食(た)べた。
I had soba for lunch.
夏(なつ)はやっぱり冷(つめ)たい蕎麦(そば)がおいしい。
Cold soba really is delicious in summer.
年越(としこ)し蕎麦(そば)を食(た)べて新年(しんねん)を迎(むか)えるのが日本(にほん)の伝統(でんとう)だ。
It is a Japanese tradition to eat toshikoshi soba to ring in the new year.

Distinct from そば (beside, near). This word refers specifically to buckwheat noodles. The kanji 蕎麦(そば) is often written in hiragana on menus.

Types

  • ざる蕎麦(そば) (chilled soba on a bamboo tray)
  • かけ蕎麦(そば) (soba in hot broth)
  • 天(てん)ぷら蕎麦(そば) (soba with tempura)
  • 年越(としこ)し蕎麦(そば) (New Year's Eve soba)

Common collocations

Cultural note

年越(としこ)し蕎麦(そば) is eaten on New Year's Eve, symbolizing longevity and cutting off the hardships of the past year. 蕎麦(そば)屋(や) (soba restaurants) are a staple of Japanese dining culture.

Related Words

Related: 中華麺(ちゅうかめん) (Chinese-style noodles)
Compare: そうめん (somen)
general
Added 2026.2.28 21:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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