Japanese word

食物

Pronunciation

Romajishokumotsu

Meaning

  • nounfood

Example

胃は食物を消化します。i wa shoku motsu o shō ka shi ma su

The stomach digests food.

Illustration for 食物 (food)

More examples

栄養士は、食物をバランスよく取る方法を説明します。ei yō shi wa shoku motsu o ba ra n su yo ku to ru hō hō o setsu mei shi ma su

The nutritionist explains how to eat a balanced diet.

Core concept

Refers to what people or animals take in as nourishment, viewed as a category of things eaten rather than as a particular meal.

Common phrases

  • 食物を消化するshoku motsu o shō ka su ru

    digest food

  • 食物を摂取するshoku motsu o ses shu su ru

    consume food

Similar words

食べ物tabemono: A familiar everyday term for edible things that people or animals consume.
食料shokuryō: Food obtained or stored to support daily life.
食品shokuhin: Food prepared, processed, or sold as a product.

Definition in Japanese

人や動物が栄養を取るために食べるもの。hito ya dō butsu ga ei yō o to ru ta me ni ta be ru mo no

Word origin

食物 (shokumotsu) combines 食 (shoku, "eating or food") and 物 (motsu, "thing") in a Sino-Japanese compound for food.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 食物 (shokumotsu) sounds more formal than 食べ物 (tabemono), so it often appears in written or technical terms such as 食物繊維 (shokumotsu sen'i).

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