おやつ
おやつ
noun
afternoon snack; treat
1.
afternoon snack; treat; sweets
A light snack or treat eaten between meals, traditionally in the afternoon. Originally referred to eating at the eighth hour (yatsu) of the traditional Japanese clock, around 2-3 PM.
おやつの時間だよ。
It's snack time.
子どもたちにおやつを用意した。
I prepared snacks for the children.
遠足のおやつは300円までと決まっている。
There's a rule that snacks for the field trip can cost up to 300 yen.
USAGE:
A warm, everyday word used especially with children. The phrase 遠足のおやつは300円まで is a nostalgic cultural reference — many Japanese people remember this rule from elementary school field trips. The word comes from 八つ時 (the traditional time division for roughly 2-3 PM).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- おやつの時間 (snack time)
- おやつを食べる (to eat a snack)
- おやつを買う (to buy snacks)
- 3時のおやつ (three o'clock snack)