Translation guide
The English word 'sauce' covers a wide range of liquid or semi-liquid condiments. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is ソース, but this usually refers to a specific type of thick, savory brown sauce (like Worcestershire or tonkatsu sauce). Other sauces have their own names, and some are described by their base or use.
The speaker wants to refer to a thick, savory brown sauce commonly used in Japanese cuisine for dishes like tonkatsu, okonomiyaki, or yakisoba.
This is the default word for the thick, fruity, savory brown sauce. It's used for tonkatsu, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and yakisoba. It is not a generic term for all sauces.
とんかつにソースをかけてください。
Please put sauce on the tonkatsu.
このソースは少し甘いですね。
This sauce is a little sweet, isn't it?
The speaker specifically means soy sauce, a fundamental Japanese condiment.
The standard word for soy sauce. It's used in cooking and as a table condiment.
The speaker wants to refer to a liquid seasoning used for dipping or coating, often sweet and savory, like teriyaki or yakitori sauce.
A general term for a thick, often sweet-savory liquid used for dipping, marinating, or glazing. Common in dishes like teriyaki, yakitori, and unagi.
The speaker wants to refer to a sauce that is not the typical Japanese brown sauce, such as tomato sauce, cream sauce, or curry sauce.
In modern Japanese, ソース is also used for Western-style sauces like pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and curry sauce, often with a modifier.
The speaker wants to talk about sauce in a general, non-specific way, or refer to a sauce that doesn't fit the above categories.
Can be used generically, but often sounds like the brown sauce. Context or modifiers clarify the type.
In Japanese, ソース usually refers to a specific type of thick brown sauce. If you ask for ソース at a restaurant, you'll likely get Worcestershire or tonkatsu sauce. For other sauces, use specific names or describe them.
すみません、ソースをください。
Excuse me, can I have some sauce? (You'll probably get brown sauce.)
ソース is typically a Western-style brown sauce, while たれ is a Japanese-style sweet-savory glaze or dip. たれ is often thicker and used for grilling or dipping, while ソース is poured over fried foods.
とんかつにはソース、うなぎにはたれ。
Sauce for tonkatsu, tare for eel.
しょうゆを少し入れます。
I'll add a little soy sauce.
刺し身にしょうゆをつけて食べます。
I eat sashimi with soy sauce.
Please dip the yakitori in the sauce.
このたれは照り焼きに使います。
This sauce is used for teriyaki.
このパスタソースはトマトベースです。
This pasta sauce is tomato-based.
カレーソースがかかっています。
It has curry sauce on it.
Used in compound words like ホワイトソース (white sauce) or トマトソース (tomato sauce).
ホワイトソースを作ります。
I'll make white sauce.
何かソースが欲しいです。
I want some kind of sauce.
Sometimes used broadly for any liquid seasoning, but usually implies a thicker, sweeter Japanese-style sauce.
この料理にはどんなたれが合いますか？
What kind of sauce goes well with this dish?