How to say "soup" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 湯タンnoun, noun (suffix)Seldom the word you want for 'soup': 湯 is the ordinary Japanese word for hot water, as in the bath, and the 'soup' sense reflects the character's Chinese use.
- 汁物しるものnounRefers to soup as a served dish — a bowl of soup as part of a meal — rather than soup in general; a category term, as on menus, more than an all-purpose word.
- nounA loanword for soup, as its katakana spelling suggests; a marginal choice, and seldom the word you want for 'soup' in general.
- お汁おつゆnounPolite language for broth or soup, especially the miso soup served with a meal; a natural choice when offering or asking about the soup at the table.
- お付けおつけnounAlso a word for the broth or soup — especially miso soup — served with a meal; it overlaps closely with お汁 and is likewise a less common choice for 'soup'.
All five are less common ways to render 'soup': 湯 and 「ソップ」 are marginal choices, 汁物 names soup as a served dish, and 「お汁」 and 「お付け」 point to the soup—especially miso soup—served with a meal.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
