Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'candy' depends on the type. The most common general term is お菓子 (okashi), which covers sweets, snacks, and confectionery. For hard candies or specific Western-style candies, キャンディー (kyandī) is used. Traditional Japanese candies have their own names.
The broadest term for candy, sweets, and snacks, often used in everyday conversation.
Specifically refers to hard candies, lollipops, or candy in the Western sense.
Loanword from English, used for hard candies, lollipops, and sometimes candy in general. Often written in katakana.
Refers to old-fashioned or artisanal Japanese sweets, often made from sugar and malt syrup.
Cheap, nostalgic Japanese candies and snacks, often sold in small shops. Evokes childhood memories.
Specifically refers to chocolate-based candies or candy bars.
For chewy candies like gum or gummies.
Chewing gum. Not exactly candy, but often grouped with sweets.
キャンディー specifically means hard candy or lollipops. For general sweets, use お菓子. Using キャンディー for chocolate or cake would be unnatural.
お菓子 is the standard polite form. Dropping お (just 菓子) sounds formal or is used in compounds like 菓子パン (sweet bread).
This candy is very sweet.
Confectionery is over here.
I suck on a candy.
I gave the child a candy.
Traditional Japanese hard candy, often fruit-flavored or made from starch syrup. Can refer to any hard candy.
I walk while sucking on a candy.
I buy candy at the cheap candy store.
Traditional Japanese confectionery, often made with bean paste, rice flour, etc. More refined than 駄菓子.
Japanese sweets are beautiful to look at.
Chocolate, often used for chocolate candies. Abbreviated as チョコ in casual speech.
I love chocolate/candy bars.
ガムを噛む。
I chew gum.
Gummy candy, from German 'Gummi'.
Gummy candies are soft and delicious.
This candy is too sweet.