Translation guide
A large, white, mild Japanese radish used in many dishes. The word can refer to the vegetable itself or to dishes featuring it.
大根
daikon (the vegetable)
Referring to the daikon radish as an ingredient or food item.
The standard word for daikon radish. Used in cooking and everyday conversation.
大根を買ってきてください。
Please buy some daikon.
この大根はとても大きいですね。
This daikon is really big, isn't it?
In some contexts, especially in cooking, may be referred to with honorific prefix お.
お大根を煮ましょう。
Let's simmer the daikon.
Referring to specific dishes made with daikon, such as pickles or grated radish.
Pickled daikon, often yellow and served as a side dish or in sushi.
たくあんを少しください。
Please give me a little pickled daikon.
Using 'daikon' in idiomatic expressions or metaphors.
Literally 'daikon actor', meaning a bad or ham actor. From the idea that daikon is always edible (当たらない) and never causes food poisoning, so a bad actor never 'hits' the mark.
彼は大根役者だと言われている。
He is said to be a ham actor.
In English, 'daikon' specifically refers to the large white Japanese radish. In Japanese, 大根 is the general term for this type of radish, but there are many varieties. If you mean the small red radish, use ラディッシュ.
Grated daikon, commonly served with grilled fish or tempura.
大根おろしを添えてどうぞ。
Please enjoy it with grated daikon.
Dried shredded daikon, rehydrated and cooked in simmered dishes.
切り干し大根の煮物が好きです。
I like simmered dried daikon.