Japanese word

おやつ

Pronunciation

Romajioyatsu

Meaning

  • nounsnack

Example

毎日三時におやつを食べます。mai nichi san ji ni o ya tsu o ta be ma su

I eat a snack at three every day.

Illustration for おやつ (snack)

More examples

学校から帰っておやつを食べます。gak kō ka ra kae tte o ya tsu o ta be ma su

I eat a snack after I get home from school.

冷蔵庫におやつがあります。rei zō ko ni o ya tsu ga a ri ma su

There is a snack in the refrigerator.

Core concept

Describes a small amount of food eaten between regular meals, often as a pleasant break.

Common phrases

  • おやつの時間o ya tsu no ji kan

    snack time

  • おやつを食べるo ya tsu o ta be ru

    eat a snack

  • おやつを持っていくo ya tsu o mo tte i ku

    take a snack

Similar words

お菓子okashi: A sweet or prepared food that is eaten for enjoyment, often between meals.
間食kanshoku: The act or habit of eating food between regular meals.
軽食keishoku: A small, light meal eaten when a full meal is not needed.

Definition in Japanese

食事と食事の間に食べる軽い食べ物。shoku ji to shoku ji no aida ni ta be ru karu i ta be mono

Word origin

The noun おやつ (oyatsu) comes from 八つ時 (yatsudoki), an old name for an afternoon time period, because food was eaten then; お (o, "honorific") was added.

Usage tips

  • Unlike treat, おやつ (oyatsu) does not necessarily mean a special or sugary food and can refer to an ordinary small snack.

Other meanings

  • treatnoun

Word lists with this word