Translation guide
Describes food with a crisp, hard texture that makes a sound when bitten. Common Japanese words include カリカリ (light, dry crunch) and サクサク (flaky, layered crunch).
For small, dry, brittle foods like chips, nuts, or toast that break with a light cracking sound.
Onomatopoeic word for a light, dry crunch. Often used for toasted bread, fried chicken skin, bacon, or nuts.
このベーコンはカリカリに焼けている。
This bacon is cooked crunchy.
カリカリのトーストが好きです。
I like crunchy toast.
Similar to カリカリ but with a thinner, sharper snap, like fresh lettuce or crispy seaweed.
この海苔はパリパリしている。
This seaweed is crunchy.
A louder, harder crunch, like biting into a hard cracker or candy. Can also imply something very stiff or rigid.
バリバリの煎餅が好きだ。
I like crunchy rice crackers.
For foods with a light, airy, layered texture that crumbles or shatters, like pie crust, tempura, or cookies.
Onomatopoeic word for a light, flaky crunch. Common for cookies, pie crust, tempura batter, and fried cutlets.
このクッキーはサクサクしている。
This cookie is crunchy.
サクサクの天ぷらが食べたい。
I want to eat crunchy tempura.
Adjectival form of サクッと (adverb), describing a light, crisp texture. Often used in food descriptions.
サクッとした食感がいいですね。
The crunchy texture is nice, isn't it?
For fresh produce that is firm and makes a crisp sound when bitten, like apples, celery, or lettuce.
Onomatopoeic word for a fresh, crisp texture, especially for vegetables like lettuce, celery, or bean sprouts.
このレタスはシャキシャキしている。
This lettuce is crunchy.
Literally 'has a bite/chewiness'. A general term for a satisfying firm texture, not exclusively crunchy but often used for crisp foods.
このりんごは歯ごたえがあっておいしい。
This apple is crunchy and delicious.
A direct adjective meaning 'crunchy', often used in product labels or formal descriptions.
Loanword from English 'crispy'. Common in food product names and menus, e.g., クリスピーチキン.
クリスピーな食感が特徴です。
It features a crunchy texture.
Adjectival form of カリッと, similar to カリカリ but often used in written descriptions for a single crisp bite.
カリッとした食感のチキン。
Chicken with a crunchy texture.
カリカリ is for hard, dry crunch (nuts, toast). サクサク is for light, flaky crunch (pastries, tempura). シャキシャキ is for fresh, watery crispness (lettuce, celery). Using the wrong one sounds unnatural.
ポテトチップスはカリカリしている。
Potato chips are crunchy (hard, dry).
クロワッサンはサクサクしている。
Croissants are crunchy (flaky).
きゅうりはシャキシャキしている。
Cucumbers are crunchy (crisp).
The English word 'crunchy' covers many textures. Japanese uses specific onomatopoeia. Simply saying crunchy as クランチー is not natural outside of product names. Use the appropriate mimetic word.