How to say "dough" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe straight loanword for the baking sense: a flour paste for bread or pastry. It is less common than 生地, which is the more common word for dough.
- 練り粉ねりこnounA native word for the literal baking sense, covering dough and batter. It is less common, and in cooking contexts 生地 is the more common choice.
- お足おあしnounThe colloquial money sense: 'dough' or 'moolah' as informal words for cash. Fit for casual talk about money, not for anything baked.
- nounA money word, not a baking term: it matches the slang 'dough' and 'loot', often with a nuance of dirty money. For literal dough this is not the word you want.
- 生地きじnounThe common word for the literal baking sense: dough, and also batter. When you mean the flour paste itself rather than money, this is the word to reach for.
For literal dough in baking, 生地 is the common word, with 「ドウ」 and 「練り粉」 as less common alternatives; for the slang money sense, choose 「お足」 or 「カネ」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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