How to say "spoon" in Japanese

• スプーンJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for a spoon, borrowed from English; it is what you call the spoon set with Western tableware for eating soup, dessert, and the like. A safe default in most contexts.
  この赤ん坊あかんぼうはまだスプーンが使つかえない。↗

  The baby cannot use a spoon yet.
• さじJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe native word for a spoon, usually written in kana. It tends to suggest a smaller spoon, such as one for taking medicine or measuring ingredients, and overlaps with スプーン in many everyday uses.
  私わたしたちはさじでスープを飲のむ。↗

  We eat soup with a spoon.

Use 「スプーン」 for the ordinary spoon you eat with, especially Western-style tableware; use 「さじ」 for smaller spoons, such as for medicine or measuring; the two overlap, and 「さじ」 is usually written in kana.

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

• スプーンspoon
• さじspoon