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.
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.
今日の夕食はナスの味噌炒めです。
Tonight's dinner is stir-fried eggplant with miso.
I'm growing eggplants in my garden.
Kanji form of ナス. Less common in everyday writing but seen in literature or formal contexts.
I like pickled eggplant.
Talking about eggplant as an ingredient or in specific dishes.
Describing the deep purple color associated with eggplants.
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.
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.
Eggplant tempura is crispy and delicious.
茄子紺の帯が素敵ですね。
That eggplant-navy obi is lovely.