How to say "sugar" in Japanese

• 砂糖さとうJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for sugar as an ingredient — the granulated sugar you add to coffee, tea and baking. For sugar in cooking or at the table, this is the word to reach for.
  はちには砂糖さとうが全然ぜんぜんない。↗

  There is no sugar in the bowl.
• 糖とうCommon
  nounThe technical term for sugar as a chemical substance, used in scientific, medical and nutritional contexts. It is not the word for the sugar in your kitchen cupboard; for that, use 砂糖.
  今いままで、一度いちど、糖とうが出でたことがありますが、今回こんかいは蛋白たんぱくのみでした。↗

  Until now sugar had been detected in my urine once, however this time there is only albumin.
• シュガーCommon
  nounThe English loanword. It turns up in product names, on packaging and menus, and in fashionable or Western-style contexts; for referring to sugar itself, 砂糖 is the word you want.

Use 砂糖 for sugar as the everyday kitchen ingredient; 糖 is the technical term in scientific and medical contexts; 「シュガー」 is the English loanword, found mainly in product names and stylish contexts.

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

• 砂糖さとうsugar
• 糖とうsugar
• シュガーsugar