How do you say "bowl" in Japanese?

ボウル

bōru

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "bowl" is ボウル (bōru).

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Pronunciation

ボウル is written using katakana. Romanised as bōru, it sounds roughly like "boh-roo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Bōru in katakana is the English loanword for bowl. Modern Japanese uses katakana for dining vessels from Western contexts.

Example sentence

机の上にボウルがあります。

Tsukue no ue ni Bōru ga arimasu.

There is a bowl on the desk.

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How to remember ボウル

Bowl - bōru. Round curved container for holding soup or salad. Picture filling a round bowl with rice or noodles.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

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Questions about ボウル

How do you pronounce ボウル?

ボウル is romanised as bōru. Say it roughly like "boh-roo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is ボウル formal or casual?

ボウル is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is ボウル written in Japanese?

ボウル is written using katakana. Bōru in katakana is the English loanword for bowl.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Bowl" in other languages

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