Translation guide
The vegetable eggplant, known as ナス (nasu) in Japanese. This guide covers how to refer to the vegetable itself, common dishes, and related expressions.
ナス
eggplant
Referring to the eggplant as a food item or plant.
The standard word for eggplant in Japanese. Often written in katakana, but can also be written as 茄子 in kanji.
Tonight's dinner is stir-fried eggplant with miso.
庭でナスを育てています。
I'm growing eggplants in my garden.
Kanji form of ナス. Less common in everyday writing but seen in literature or formal contexts.
茄子の漬物が好きです。
I like pickled eggplant.
Talking about eggplant as an ingredient or in specific dishes.
Eggplant miso soup, a common home-style dish.
ナスの味噌汁を作りましょう。
Let's make eggplant miso soup.
Grilled eggplant, often served with soy sauce and ginger.
焼きナスに醤油をかけて食べます。
I eat grilled eggplant with soy sauce.
Eggplant tempura, a popular dish.
ナスの天ぷらはサクサクしていて美味しいです。
Eggplant tempura is crispy and delicious.
Describing the deep purple color associated with eggplants.
Literally 'eggplant color', a dark purple shade.
彼女はナス色のドレスを着ていた。
She was wearing an eggplant-colored dress.
A traditional Japanese color name meaning 'eggplant navy', a very dark purple.
茄子紺の帯が素敵ですね。
That eggplant-navy obi is lovely.
Using 'eggplant' in a proverb or set phrase.
A proverb meaning 'Don't let your daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants' (because they are too delicious, or because they are said to cool the body and might be bad for her). Used humorously.
「秋茄子は嫁に食わすな」ということわざを知っていますか？
Do you know the proverb 'Don't let your daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants'?
In everyday writing, ナス (katakana) is much more common than 茄子 (kanji). Use ナス unless you are writing in a literary or formal context.