Translation guide
The spice clove, or the tree it comes from. Also used in compounds like 'clove of garlic'.
The dried flower bud used as a spice.
The most common and direct translation for the spice clove. Used in cooking and everyday contexts.
このカレーにはクローブが入っています。
This curry contains cloves.
The traditional Japanese word for clove, often used in herbal medicine or formal contexts. Less common in everyday cooking.
丁子は漢方薬に使われます。
Cloves are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The tree that produces cloves.
Literally 'clove tree'. The most natural way to refer to the tree.
クローブの木は熱帯地方で育ちます。
Clove trees grow in tropical regions.
Using the traditional word for clove. More formal or botanical.
丁子の木はインドネシア原産です。
The clove tree is native to Indonesia.
A single segment of a garlic bulb, often called a 'clove' in English.
Means 'one piece' or 'one segment'. Used specifically for garlic cloves. The counter 片 (かけ) is used for fragments or pieces.
にんにくを一片みじん切りにしてください。
Please mince one clove of garlic.
Similar to 一片, but かけら can imply a smaller or broken piece. Less common for garlic.
にんにくを一かけら入れて。
Add a clove of garlic.
The full phrase 'a clove of garlic'. 一片 is the most standard counter.
にんにくの一片を炒めます。
I'll sauté a clove of garlic.
The English word 'clove' can also be the past tense of 'cleave' (to split). This is unrelated to the spice or garlic. In Japanese, 'split' is 割る (わる) or 裂く (さく).