How to say "candy" in Japanese

• 菓子かしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers sweets and confectionery broadly, including candy, with a formal or written nuance. Choose it for menus, shop signage, or general statements about confections rather than a single piece of candy.
  この菓子かしを自由じゆうにお取とり下ください。↗

  Please help yourself to these cakes.
• キャンディCommon
  nounThe direct word for candy in the concrete sense: small, individually wrapped sugar-based sweets. When you mean candy specifically, as distinct from cakes or other sweets, this is the word you want.
  このキャンディーは８０セントです。↗

  This candy costs eighty cents.
• お菓子おかしJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounEveryday polite word for sweets, snacks, and confections of all kinds, candy included. Natural in casual conversation, such as offering someone a treat or talking about buying sweets.
  お菓子かしで赤あかちゃんが窒息ちっそくするところだった。↗

  The baby almost choked on a piece of candy.

Use 「キャンディ」 for candy as a specific sweet treat; use 「お菓子」 in everyday talk about sweets or snacks generally; 菓子 is the same idea in a more formal, written register.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 菓子かしconfectionery
• キャンディcandy
• お菓子おかしconfections
• 飴玉あめだまcandy
• 砂糖菓子さとうがしcandy
• 糖菓とうかsweets
• 飴あめ(hard) candy
• あめちゃん(hard) candy
• コンフェティcandy