Translation guide
A traditional Japanese confection consisting of a soft wheat, rice, or buckwheat dough filled with sweet bean paste or other fillings, then steamed or baked.
Referring to the steamed or baked bun with sweet filling
The standard Japanese word for manjū. Refers broadly to the category of filled steamed or baked buns.
I bought some manjū as a souvenir.
This manjū is filled with plenty of sweet bean paste.
Polite form with honorific prefix お. Commonly used in everyday speech to sound more refined or respectful.
Please have a manjū.
Referring to a particular variety of manjū
Manjū made with sake lees or rice koji in the dough, giving a subtle sweetness and soft texture.
Saka-manjū is fluffy and delicious.
Manjū typically sold at hot spring resorts, often made with local ingredients and brown sugar.
Onsen manjū is a classic souvenir.
A savory manjū filled with meat, similar to a steamed meat bun. Often called 肉まん (nikuman) in casual contexts.
In English, 'manjū' often refers specifically to the Japanese sweet version. In Japanese, 饅頭 can also include savory varieties and Chinese-style buns (中華まん). If you want to be clear you mean the sweet kind, you can say 甘い饅頭 (あまいまんじゅう) or specify the filling, like あんまん (sweet bean paste bun).
Niku-manjū is a type of Chinese-style steamed bun.