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.
General term for sweets, candy, snacks, and confectionery. The polite prefix お is almost always used.
お菓子を食べたい。
I want to eat some candy/sweets.
このお菓子はとても甘い。
This candy is very sweet.
Same as お菓子 but without the polite prefix. Used in compound words or formal contexts.
菓子類はこちらです。
Confectionery is over here.
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.
キャンディーをなめる。
I suck on a candy.
子供にキャンディーをあげた。
I gave the child a candy.
Traditional Japanese hard candy, often fruit-flavored or made from starch syrup. Can refer to any hard candy.
飴を舐めながら歩く。
I walk while sucking on a candy.
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.
駄菓子屋でお菓子を買う。
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.
Specifically refers to chocolate-based candies or candy bars.
Chocolate, often used for chocolate candies. Abbreviated as チョコ in casual speech.
チョコレートが大好きです。
I love chocolate/candy bars.
For chewy candies like gum or gummies.
Chewing gum. Not exactly candy, but often grouped with sweets.
ガムを噛む。
I chew gum.
Gummy candy, from German 'Gummi'.
グミは柔らかくて美味しい。
Gummy candies are soft and delicious.
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).
このお菓子、甘すぎる。
This candy is too sweet.
Japanese sweets are beautiful to look at.