Translation guide
In Japanese, the evening meal is most commonly referred to as 晩ご飯 (bangohan) or 夕食 (yuushoku). The word 'supper' can be translated in several ways depending on formality and context, but the concept is straightforward.
The main evening meal, typically eaten at home with family.
The most common and casual word for the evening meal. Used in everyday conversation.
晩ご飯は何時に食べる？
What time do you eat supper?
今日の晩ご飯はカレーだよ。
Tonight's supper is curry.
A slightly more formal word for the evening meal. Common in written language and polite speech.
夕食の準備を手伝ってくれますか。
Could you help me prepare supper?
夕食後、散歩に行きましょう。
Let's go for a walk after supper.
A casual alternative to 晩ご飯, literally 'night meal'. Used in some regions or families.
夜ご飯はもう食べた？
Have you already eaten supper?
A somewhat old-fashioned or literary word for the evening meal. Still used in some contexts.
夕飯の支度を始めましょう。
Let's start preparing supper.
A light meal eaten later in the evening, sometimes after a main dinner.
A light meal or snack eaten late at night, often after dinner. Not exactly 'supper' but used for late-night eating.
夜食にラーメンを食べた。
I had ramen for a late-night supper.
Literally 'light supper', used to specify a small evening meal.
今夜は軽い夕食にしよう。
Let's have a light supper tonight.
晩ご飯 (bangohan) is the everyday word for supper, used in casual conversation. 夕食 (yuushoku) is more formal and often used in writing or polite situations. Both are common and interchangeable in many contexts.
晩ご飯にしましょう。
Let's have supper. (casual)
夕食の時間です。
It's time for supper. (formal)
私たちはたいてい7時に夕食をとります。
We usually have supper at seven.
彼女は私を夕食に招待してくれた。
She invited me for supper.