Translation guide
The English word 'salt' primarily refers to the common seasoning sodium chloride. In Japanese, the basic word is 塩 (shio). However, the translation depends heavily on context: table salt, sea salt, rock salt, salt as a chemical compound, or metaphorical uses like 'worth one's salt'. This guide covers the most useful expressions for an English-speaking learner.
The common white granular substance used to flavor food.
The general word for salt as a seasoning. Used in cooking and at the table.
塩を取ってください。
Please pass the salt.
このスープは塩が足りない。
This soup needs more salt.
Literally 'table salt' or 'edible salt'. Often used on packaging or in nutritional contexts.
食塩相当量
salt equivalent (on nutrition labels)
Specific varieties of salt used in cooking or food culture.
Natural salt, often sea salt or rock salt, unrefined.
この天然塩はミネラルが豊富です。
This natural salt is rich in minerals.
Sea salt. Note: 海塩 (かいえん) is also used but うみしお is more common in everyday contexts.
海塩を使うと風味が良くなります。
Using sea salt improves the flavor.
Rock salt, often used in salt lamps or as a gourmet salt.
Salt as a chemical substance, NaCl.
Sodium chloride, the scientific term. Used in chemistry and industry.
塩化ナトリウムは食塩の主成分です。
Sodium chloride is the main component of table salt.
In everyday chemical contexts, 塩 can also mean 'salt' in the chemical sense, but 塩化ナトリウム is more precise.
Expressions where 'salt' is used figuratively.
Literally 'to step on salt', meaning to have a painful experience or to go through hardship. Often used in the phrase 塩を踏んだような顔 (a pained expression).
彼は塩を踏んだような顔をしている。
He looks like he's in pain.
Slang for a cold, unfriendly response. Derived from 'salt' as opposed to 'sugar' (sweet).
あの店員の塩対応には驚いた。
I was surprised by that clerk's cold attitude.
Literally 'to send salt to one's enemy', meaning to help an opponent in a time of need, showing magnanimity. From a historical anecdote.
彼は敵に塩を送るような行為をした。
He performed an act of helping his enemy.
Uses of salt in purification, sumo, or traditional settings.
Purification salt, used in Shinto rituals or placed at entrances to ward off evil.
玄関に清め塩を置きます。
I put purification salt at the entrance.
To scatter salt, as done by sumo wrestlers before a match or after a funeral for purification.
力士が土俵に塩をまく。
Sumo wrestlers scatter salt on the ring.
The Japanese word 砂糖 (さとう) means sugar. Be careful not to mix up 塩 (しお) and 砂糖 (さとう) when asking for seasoning.
If you want less salt in your food, you can say 塩を控えめにしてください (しおをひかえめにしてください) meaning 'please go easy on the salt'.
塩を取っていただけますか？
Could you pass the salt?
この料理には塩がひとつまみ必要です。
This dish needs a pinch of salt.
岩塩ランプを買いました。
I bought a rock salt lamp.
Salts are produced by the reaction of acids and bases.