Translation and Meaning of: 食べる - taberu

If you are learning Japanese, you have certainly come across the verb 食べる (たべる, taberu). This simple word, which means "to eat," is essential in everyday vocabulary and appears in various situations, from casual conversations to animes and mangas. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and practical usage, as well as interesting facts that make learning more engaging. Whether for making flashcards in Anki or understanding cultural nuances, here you will find valuable information about 食べる.

Meaning and use of 食べる in everyday life

食べる is a Japanese verb that means "to eat" and belongs to the group of ichidan verbs (also called ru verbs). Its conjugation is relatively simple, which makes it one of the first verbs students learn. Unlike in English, where "eat" can be used in more abstract contexts, 食べる generally refers to the physical action of ingesting food.

In Japan, the act of eating is surrounded by etiquette and specific expressions. Before a meal, it is common to say いただきます (itadakimasu), and afterwards, ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita). Using 食べる (taberu) correctly includes understanding these rituals. For example, saying "ご飯を食べる" (gohan o taberu) sounds natural, but in formal situations, other terms like 召し上がる (meshiagaru) may be more appropriate.

Origin and writing of the kanji 食

The kanji 食, present in 食べる, has an interesting history. Originally, it represented a container with food and evolved to symbolize "to eat" or "food." It is composed of the radical 飠 (a variant of 食) and appears in other related words, such as 食事 (shokuji, "meal") and 食堂 (shokudou, "cafeteria").

One tip for memorizing this kanji is to observe its structure: the top part resembles a roof (like a place where one eats), and the bottom suggests a plate. Sources like Kanjipedia confirm this visual association, helping students to remember the character. Furthermore, 食 can also be read as "shoku" in compounds, such as in 和食 (washoku, "Japanese food").

Cultural curiosities and common mistakes

In Japan, the way food is discussed reflects cultural values. For example, in anime like "Shokugeki no Soma," 食べる is frequently used in scenes of culinary competitions, highlighting the importance of gastronomy in the narrative. Moreover, in informal situations, Japanese people may shorten it to たべる (taberu) or even たべちゃう (tabechau), which is a colloquial form.

A common mistake among students is confusing 食べる with 飲む (nomu, "to drink"). Although both involve consumption, they are used for solids and liquids, respectively. Another trap is trying to translate expressions like "eat a meal" literally—Japanese prefers 食事をする (shokuji o suru) in these cases. Be careful not to sound odd!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 飲む (nomu) - to drink
• 食する (shokushuru) - Eat
• 食す (shokusu) - Eat (more formal form)
• 喰う (kuu) - Eat (more colloquial or informal use, may have a connotation of devouring)
• 食らう (kurau) - Eat (informal use, often suggests devouring or consuming in a ravenous manner)
• 啜る (suru) - Sipping (usually used for drinks or eating soups)
• 食べる (taberu) - Eat (standard and common form)
• 食み込む (hamikomu) - Swallow (usually suggesting complete absorption)
• 食らいつく (kuraizuku) - Attack or devour (suggests aggressiveness when eating)
• 食い込む (kuikomu) - Enter when eating (can suggest consuming until the end or penetrating deeply)
• 食い入る (kuiiru) - Dive or immerse while eating (usually used figuratively)
• 食いつく (kuituku) - Grab on while eating (suggests intensity)
• 食いつき (kuituki) - Adherence to eating (suggests intensity or attachment to food)
• 食い込める (kuikomeru) - Able to enter while eating (suggests potential for intense consumption)
• 食い込んでくる (kuikonde kuru) - To feel absorbed while eating (a sense of something becoming increasingly engulfed)
• 食い込んでいく (kuikonde iku) - Continue to eat (suggests a continuous process)
• 食い込んでくれる (kuikonde kureru) - Please enter to eat (friendly or polite use)
• 食い込んでくれた (kuikonde kureta) - Please enter while eating (past, friendly gesture)
• 食い込んでいた (kuikonde ita) - I was entering while eating.
• 食い込んでいる (kuikonde iru) - Is entering while eating (present continuous)
• 食い込んでいたら (kuikonde itara) - If you were entering while eating (conditional)

食べる

Romaji: taberu
Kana: たべる
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: eat

Meaning in English: to eat

Definition: Ingest something through the mouth or throat.

Example Sentences - (食べる) taberu

See below some example sentences:

私は食べ物を控える必要があります。

Watashi wa tabemono o hikaeru hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to abstain from eating.

I need to abstain from food.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - Japanese noun meaning "food"
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 控える (hikaeru) - Japanese verb that means "to abstain" or "to restrict oneself."
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb that means "to exist" or "there is"

私は毎日飯を食べます。

Watashi wa mainichi meshi wo tabemasu

I like rice every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 飯 (meshi) - noun that means "food" or "meal"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "food"
• 食べます (tabemasu) - verb that means "to eat" in the affirmative present

私は箸でご飯を食べます。

Watashi wa hashi de gohan wo tabemasu

I like rice with hashi.

I like rice with chopsticks.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 箸 - word that means "hashi" (Japanese chopsticks for eating)
• で - particle that indicates the means or instrument used
• ご飯 - word that means "gohan" (cooked rice)
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 食べます - verb that means "tabemasu" (to eat)

腐敗した食品は食べない方がいいです。

Fuhai shita shokuhin wa tabenai hou ga ii desu

It is better not to eat rotten food.

• 腐敗した - "estragado" significa "腐った" em japonês.
• 食品 - means "food" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 食べない - means "do not eat" in Japanese
• 方がいいです - It means "it's better" in Japanese.

蕎麦は日本の伝統的な食べ物です。

Soba wa Nihon no dentōteki na tabemono desu

Soba is a traditional Japanese food.

• 蕎麦 (soba) - Japanese noodles made from buckwheat
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (Nihon) - Japan
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 伝統的な (dentōteki na) - Traditional
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - food
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present