Translation and Meaning of: 食事 - shokuji

The Japanese word 食事[しょくじ] is essential for anyone wanting to understand daily life in Japan. It represents something as simple as a meal, but carries interesting cultural and linguistic nuances. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, usage in sentences, and even curiosities about how the Japanese see this term in their daily lives. If you are learning Japanese or are just curious about the language, you will discover valuable details here.

Meaning and translation of 食事.

食事[しょくじ] literally means "meal" or "food" in Japanese. Unlike more informal terms like ご飯[ごはん] (which can also mean "rice"), 食事 is used in more general and formal contexts. For example, when inviting someone to dinner, it is common to hear phrases like "一緒に食事しませんか？" (Shall we eat together?).

It is worth noting that 食事 does not refer only to the act of eating, but to the complete experience of the meal. This includes the environment, the company, and even the rituals at the table. In the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you will find practical examples that show how this word appears in real situations.

Origin and composition of kanjis

The term 食事 is formed by two kanji: 食 (to eat, food) and 事 (thing, matter). Together, they create the idea of "matter related to eating." The first kanji, 食, is one of the most useful in Japanese vocabulary, appearing in words like 食堂[しょくどう] (cafeteria) and 朝食[ちょうしょく] (breakfast).

Interestingly, the combination of these characters is not random. It reflects the importance that Japanese culture gives to meals as structured moments, not just as food consumption. This perception is clear in expressions like 食事療法[しょくじりょうほう] (diet therapy), where food plays an active role in health.

Cultural usage and frequency in Japan

In Japan, 食事 is a daily used word, but with connotations that go beyond the basic. It often appears in public notices, menus, and even in rules of etiquette. Restaurants typically use the term on signs such as 食事処[しょくじどころ] (meal place), signaling spaces dedicated to eating in peace.

Unlike other languages, where "meal" can sound formal, 食事 sounds natural in both casual conversations and professional situations. A boss can say "食事に行きましょう" (Let's go to lunch) without sounding pretentious. This versatility makes it one of the first words that Japanese language students should master.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 飲食 (Inshoku) - Food and drink; the act of eating and drinking.
• 食餐 (Shokusan) - Meal; formal meal served.
• 食物 (Shokumotsu) - Food; consumable products for nutrition.
• 食品 (Shokuhin) - Food products; items available for consumption.
• 食糧 (Shokuryō) - Food supplies; stored or necessary foods.
• 食料 (Shokuryō) - Food; raw materials for nutrition.
• 食べ物 (Tabemono) - Food; general, any item that can be eaten.
• 飯 (Meshi) - Cooked rice or meal; a more colloquial term.
• 御飯 (Gohan) - Cooked rice; refers to the meal in a more respectful manner.
• ご飯 (Gohan) - Cooked rice; variant with the honorific prefix.
• メシ (Meshi) - Food; colloquial term or slang for food.

食事

Romaji: shokuji
Kana: しょくじ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: meal

Meaning in English: meal

Definition: for consuming food.

Example Sentences - (食事) shokuji

See below some example sentences:

食事は大切な時間です。

Shokuji wa taisetsu na jikan desu

The meal is an important moment.

Meals are an important moment.

• 食事 (shokuji) - It refers to a meal.
• は (wa) - Topic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "食事".
• 大切 (taisetsu) - It means "important" or "valuable".
• な (na) - Particle that connects "大切" with "時間" and indicates that "大切" is an adjective.
• 時間 (jikan) - It means "time".
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in the present tense.

レストランで美味しい食事を楽しみました。

Resutoran de oishii shokuji wo tanoshimimashita

I enjoyed a delicious meal at the restaurant.

I enjoyed a delicious meal at the restaurant.

• レストラン (resutoran) - restaurant
• で (de) - in
• 美味しい (oishii) - delicious
• 食事 (shokuji) - meal
• を (wo) - direct object
• 楽しみました (tanoshimimashita) - took advantage, enjoyed

この食事は物足りないです。

Kono shokuji wa monotarinai desu

This meal is not satisfying.

This meal is unsatisfactory.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 食事 - noun meaning "meal"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 物足りない - adjective meaning "insufficient", "not satisfactory"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

「ぞんざいな食事は好きじゃない。」

Zonzai na shokuji wa suki janai

I don't like a sloppy meal.

• ぞんざいな - adjective meaning "careless", "negligent", "sloppy".
• 食事 - noun meaning "meal".
• は - topic particle, which indicates that the subject of the sentence is "careless eating".
• 好き - adjective meaning "to like".
• じゃない - informal negation of the form "ではない", which means "it is not".

私たちは美味しい且つ健康的な食事を食べることが大切だと思います。

Watashitachi wa oishii katsu kenkō

I think it's important to eat delicious and healthy meals.

• 私たち - Personal pronoun "we"
• 美味しい - Adjective "delicious"
• 且つ - conjunction "and"
• 健康的な - adjective "healthy"
• 食事 - noun "meal"
• を - direct object" particle
• 食べる - verb "to eat"
• こと - noun "thing"
• が - subject" particle
• 大切 - adjective "important"
• だ - verb to be"
• と - quote" particle
• 思います - verb "to think"

給食は学校で提供される食事です。

Kyūshoku wa gakkō de teikyō sareru shokuji desu

Lunch is a meal provided at school.

• 給食 - Refers to school meals
• は - Topic marking particle
• 学校 - School
• で - Placeholder particle
• 提供される - To be supplied
• 食事 - Meal
• です - Sentence-ending particle