How to say "herb" in Japanese

• 草くさJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounCovers 'herb' only in the broad botanical sense of a non-woody plant; its core meanings are grass and weed. Rarely the word you want for kitchen or medicinal herbs—say ハーブ instead.
  月つきには草くさが生はえて無ない。↗

  There is no grass on the moon.
• ハーブCommon
  nounThe word for 'herb' in the familiar English sense: culinary and aromatic plants like basil or mint, used in cooking, gardening, and herbal products. This is the natural choice in almost any everyday context.
  ハーブの専門店せんもんてんを聞きいたことがありませんか。↗

  Do you know a good specialty store dealing in herbs?

Use 「ハーブ」 for culinary or aromatic herbs in the Western sense; 草 primarily means grass or weeds, and only loosely covers 'herb' as a plant in general.

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

• 草くさgrass
• ハーブherb
• 香草こうそうherb
• 草本そうほんherbaceous plant