Translation guide
The English word "carbohydrate" refers to a macronutrient found in foods like bread, rice, and sugar. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 炭水化物 (tansuikabutsu), but depending on context, other terms like 糖質 (toushitsu) or 糖類 (tourui) may be used. This guide helps you choose the right word for nutrition, diet, and everyday conversation.
Referring to carbohydrates in a nutritional or scientific context, such as on food labels or in health discussions.
The standard term for carbohydrates in nutrition. Used on food packaging, in dietary guidelines, and in formal contexts.
This food is low in carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are a source of energy for the body.
Often used in diet contexts to mean 'carbs' or 'sugars', especially when talking about low-carb diets. Technically refers to digestible carbohydrates that affect blood sugar.
I'm on a low-carb diet.
This bread is high in carbs.
Refers specifically to sugars (simple carbohydrates). Used on food labels to indicate sugar content, not total carbohydrates.
I choose drinks with zero sugar.
Talking about foods like rice, bread, pasta, or potatoes in everyday conversation, often in the context of meals or diet.
Even in casual talk, 炭水化物 is used to refer to carb-rich foods. It's not overly formal.
I cut out carbs at night.
In diet-focused conversations, 糖質 is often used interchangeably with 炭水化物 to mean 'carbs', though it's technically narrower.
Means 'staple food', which in Japan is typically rice. Used when talking about the main carbohydrate source in a meal.
炭水化物 (tansuikabutsu) is the broadest term, covering all carbohydrates including fiber. 糖質 (toushitsu) refers to available carbohydrates that provide calories, often used in diet contexts. 糖類 (tourui) means sugars specifically. On Japanese food labels, 炭水化物 is total carbs, 糖質 is net carbs (excluding fiber), and 糖類 is sugars.
The phrase 'low-carb' is commonly expressed as 糖質制限 (toushitsu seigen) or 低炭水化物 (teitansuikabutsu). 糖質オフ (toushitsu ofu) is a popular marketing term for reduced-carb products.
I end up eating nothing but carbs.
I avoid meals high in carbs.
The staple food in Japan is rice.