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 most common and casual word for the evening meal. Used in everyday conversation.
What time do you eat supper?
Tonight's supper is curry.
A slightly more formal word for the evening meal. Common in written language and polite speech.
Could you help me prepare supper?
Let's go for a walk after supper.
A casual alternative to 晩ご飯, literally 'night meal'. Used in some regions or families.
Have you already eaten supper?
A somewhat old-fashioned or literary word for the evening meal. Still used in some contexts.
Let's start preparing supper.
A light meal eaten later in the evening, sometimes after a main dinner.
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.
Let's have supper. (casual)
It's time for supper. (formal)
We usually have supper at seven.
She invited me for supper.