Japanese word

とる

Pronunciation

Romajitoru

Meaning

  • verbhave

Example

昼ご飯をとります。hiru go han o to ri ma su

I have lunch.

Illustration for とる (have)

More examples

毎朝、家族と朝ご飯をとります。mai asa ka zoku to asa go han o to ri ma su

I have breakfast with my family every morning.

Core concept

It treats eating a meal as taking food into the body, so it expresses having a meal rather than possessing something.

Common phrases

  • 昼ご飯をとるhiru go han o to ru

    have lunch

  • 朝ご飯をとるasa go han o to ru

    have breakfast

  • 夕食をとるyū shoku o to ru

    have dinner

Similar words

食べるtaberu: To consume food as a meal in ordinary language.
いただくitadaku: To eat or drink in a humble way when speaking about oneself.

Definition in Japanese

食事や飲み物を口にする。shoku ji ya no mi mono o kuchi ni su ru

Word origin

とる (toru) is a native Japanese verb commonly written 取る (toru, "take"), with the meaning of having a meal developing from the idea of taking in food.

Usage tips

  • 昼食をとる (chūshoku o toru) is a neutral expression that often sounds more formal than 昼ご飯を食べる (hirugohan o taberu).

Other meanings

  • takeverb

Word lists with this word