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Japanese Soup Words Japanese Reading Practice

Learn Real Japanese Through The Taste of Washoku

Discover how words like dashi, tsuyu, and shiru express the heart of Japanese cuisine.

Explore the Meaning of Dashi, Tsuyu, and Shiru in Japanese

Have you ever wondered why Japanese has several words for “soup”? In this blog lesson, Yamamoto sensei explains the subtle differences among dashi, tsuyu, and shiru using clear examples from daily life and cooking.

With furigana support and an English translation, it’s perfect for learners who want to improve listening and reading while exploring the language behind Japanese food culture.

Build vocabulary for cuisine and daily life, including ingredients, seasonings, and phrases you can use when ordering or cooking.

Take a quiet moment to enjoy the rhythm of natural Japanese and learn how these soup words shape flavor and meaning.


Read Natural Japanese in Context:Japanese Soup Words

和食のスープの言葉

Portrait of Hiroshi Yamamoto, experienced Japanese language teacher

By YAMAMOTO Hiroshi

 皆さんはうどんや天ぷら、みそ汁などの和食を食べたことはありますか。これらはどれもスープがある料理です。日本語には英語のスープを表す言葉として、「だし」、「つゆ」、「」などがあります。今回はこれらの違いを話します。上手に言葉を使って、かっこよく和食を楽しみましょう。

 まず「だし」です。「だし」はコンブや鰹節煮干しシイタケなどの天然食材を水にして煮ることによって作られます。味はシンプルで薄いのですが、深い自然の旨味があって、和食の味のベースを作っています。実際は「だし」をとった後に、味噌醤油、塩、砂糖や、野菜・魚介類から出て来る水分で味を付けるので、「だし」だけで食べることはありません。

Dashi stock with kombu and katsuobushi, Japanese cooking base

 次に「つゆ」です。「つゆ」は「だし」をベースに醤油みりん、砂糖などを加えて、甘さや風味などしっかりと味付けされた調味料です。天ぷらやざるそば、そーめん、牛丼などを食べる時に食材に付けたり、かけたりする物です。お店で売っている物も多く、簡単に使える調味料です。

Tsuyu dipping sauce for soba or tempura

 最後は「」です。みそ汁お吸い物豚汁など食材を込んで作る料理のことを言います。また、この料理の水分だけを言うこともあります。「つゆ」との違いは「つゆ」は食材に付けたりかけたりして食べますが、「」は食材と一緒に飲みながら食べます。

Miso soup and clear soup (osuimono) in lacquer bowls, traditional Japanese cuisine

 牛丼屋で、「つゆだくで」と言いながら注文するお客さんがいます。これは「つゆをたくさんかけて」という意味です。あなたも日本に来た時、牛丼屋で「つゆだくで」と言ってみてください。周りの日本人から「だな」と、あなたは注目されると思いますよ。

Gyudon with extra sauce, tsuyudaku style

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 和食わしょくのスープの言葉ことば

  みなさんはうどんや天ぷら、みそ汁などの和食わしょくべたことはありますか。これらはどれもスープがある料理りょうりです。日本語にほんごには英語えいごのスープをあらわ言葉ことばとして、「だし」、「つゆ」、「しる」などがあります。今回こんかいはこれらのちがいをはなします。上手じょうず言葉ことば使つかって、かっこよく和食わしょくたのしみましょう。

  まず「だし」です。「だし」はコンブや鰹節かつおぶし煮干にぼしシイタケなどの天然てんねん食材しょくざいみずひたしてることによってつくられます。あじはシンプルでうすいのですが、ふか自然しぜん旨味うまみがあって、和食わしょくあじのベースをつくっています。実際じっさいは「だし」をとったあとに、味噌みそ醤油しょうゆしお砂糖さとうや、野菜やさい魚介類ぎょかいるいから水分すいぶんあじけるので、「だし」だけでべることはありません。

  次に「つゆ」です。「つゆ」は「だし」をベースに醤油しょうゆみりん砂糖さとうなどをくわえて、あまさや風味ふうみなどしっかりと味付あじつけされた調味料ちょうみりょうです。天ぷらやざるそば、そーめん、牛丼ぎゅうどんなどをべるとき食材しょくざいけたり、かけたりするものです。みせっているものおおく、簡単かんたん使つかえる調味料ちょうみりょうです。

  最後は「しる」です。みそしるもの豚汁とんじる など食材しょくざい煮込にこんで 作つくる料理りょうりのことをいます。また、この料理りょうり水分すいぶんだけをうこともあります。「つゆ」とのちがいは「つゆ」は食材しょくざいけたりかけたりしてべますが、「しる」は食材しょくざい一緒いっしょみながらべます。

  牛丼屋ぎゅうどんやで、「つゆだくで」といながら注文ちゅうもんするおきゃくさんがいます。これは「つゆをたくさんかけて」という意味いみです。あなたも日本にほんとき牛丼屋ぎゅうどんやで「つゆだくで」とってみてください。まわりの日本人にほんじんから「つうだな」と、あなたは注目ちゅうもくされるとおもいますよ。

English translation for understanding

Japanese Soup Words

Have you ever eaten Japanese dishes such as udon, tempura, or miso soup? All of these meals include some kind of soup or broth. In Japanese, there are several words that can translate to “soup” in English, such as dashi, tsuyu, and shiru. This time, let’s look at the differences between these words. By using them well, you can sound more natural and enjoy Japanese cuisine like a local.

First, “dashi.” Dashi is made by soaking and simmering natural ingredients like kombu (kelp), katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), niboshi (dried sardines), or shiitake mushrooms in water. The flavor is simple and light, yet rich in natural umami, forming the base of most Japanese dishes. In practice, dashi is rarely eaten on its own. It is combined with miso, soy sauce, salt, sugar, and the moisture from vegetables or seafood to create the final flavor.

Next, “tsuyu.” Tsuyu is a seasoning made by adding soy sauce, mirin, and sugar to a base of dashi, creating a sweet and savory flavor with a rich aroma. It is used as a dipping or pouring sauce for dishes like tempura, zaru soba (cold soba noodles), somen, and gyudon (beef bowl). Many types of tsuyu are sold in stores, making it an easy and convenient seasoning to use at home.

Lastly, “shiru.” Shiru refers to soups such as miso soup, osuimono (clear broth), or tonjiru (pork and vegetable soup), in which ingredients are simmered together. Sometimes the word can also refer to just the liquid part of these soups. The difference from tsuyu is that tsuyu is used to dip or pour over food, while shiru is something you drink together with the ingredients.

At gyudon (beef bowl) restaurants, you might hear customers say “tsuyudaku de.” This means “with extra sauce.” If you say “tsuyudaku” when you order, Japanese people around you might think, “Wow, this person really knows their stuff!”

This week’s key vocabulary

みそ汁:miso soup

だし:Japanese soup stock made from fish and kelp

つゆ:(dipping) sauce

しる:soup

鰹節かつおぶし:pieces of sliced dried bonito

煮干にぼし:(small crunchy) dried sardines

シイタケ:shiitake mushroom

天然てんねん:nature

食材しょくざい:ingredient

ひたす:to dip

る:to simmer

うすい:thin

ふかい:deep

旨味うまみ:good taste

味噌みそ:made from soybeans

醤油しょうゆ:soy sauce

魚介類ぎょかいるい:seafood

みりん:type of sweet rice wine used in cooking

風味ふうみ:flavor

調味料ちょうみりょう:seasoning

ざるそば:soba served on a bamboo draining basket with dipping sauce

そうめん:fine white noodles

牛丼ぎゅうどん:rice covered with sliced beef

お吸もの:clear broth soup

豚汁とんじる:miso soup with pork and vegetables

煮込にこむ:to boil well

つゆだく:containing more broth or sauce than usual (of gyudon, etc.)

つう:authority; expert

注目ちゅうもく:attention

Meet the Teacher

Yamamoto Hiroshi, professional Japanese language teacher at Japonin Online School
YAMAMOTO Hiroshi
Japanese Language Teacher

I began teaching Japanese to technical intern trainees and internship students, and I have been an online Japanese instructor at Japonin(JOI) since 2019.

My main focus is Business Japanese and JLPT grammar (N1, N2, N3, N4). I also offer short-term private lessons to boost business Japanese skills before starting a new job, taking an overseas assignment, or changing roles, scheduled at your convenience.

I worked for a major machinery manufacturer for about 40 years, rotating through production, trade, R&D, sales, general affairs, accounting, and auditing. Drawing on this experience, I can provide practical support for a wide range of business situations in Japanese.

Experience and Qualifications

  • BA, Department of Business Information, Tokyo University of Fisheries
  • Professional Engineer (Comprehensive Technical Management)
  • Completed 420-hour Japanese Teacher Training Course (Human Academy)
  • Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test
  • Worked for a major machinery manufacturer for about 40 years (production, R&D, trade, sales, auditing, general affairs)

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