How to say "supper" in Japanese

• 夕飯ゆうはんJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers 'supper' in its basic sense of the evening meal, the same meal as 'dinner'. Choose it when you are simply talking about what you eat in the evening, not a late-night extra.
  私は昨日きのう夕飯ゆうはんを作つくった。↗

  I cooked supper last night.
• 夜食やしょくCommon
  nounCovers 'supper' as a night meal: something eaten late in the evening or before bed, ranging from a light snack to what some call the 'fourth meal' of the day.
  夜食やしょくにインスタントラーメンを食たべた。↗

  I had instant noodles as a midnight snack.
• サパーCommon
  nounThe loanword, taken straight from English 'supper'. Use it when you want the English-derived term itself; 夕飯 and 夜食 name the evening meal or a late-night meal more specifically.

Use 夕飯 when 'supper' simply means the evening meal, 夜食 for a meal or snack eaten late at night, and 「サパー」 when you want the direct loanword for 'supper' itself.

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

• 夕飯ゆうはんevening meal
• 夜食やしょくsupper
• サパーsupper
• 夕餉ゆうげevening meal
• 晩食ばんしょくsupper
• 夕ご飯ゆうごはんevening meal