Hong Kong travellers visiting Japan often assume they can navigate restaurant menus thanks to shared kanji characters—but many common food terms carry entirely different meanings, leading to surprising orders and cultural mix-ups.
For Hongkongers, Japan remains the top travel destination, with over 2.2 million visits recorded in 2023 alone. But even seasoned “乡民” returning to their beloved homeland can find themselves baffled at the dinner table. The culprit? Japanese kanji that look familiar but mean something completely different in Chinese.
“I once ordered ‘人参’ thinking I’d get ginseng soup, but instead received a carrot salad,” recalls 28-year-old frequent traveller Michelle Wong. “It was a funny mistake, but it taught me to double-check every character.”
Ordering with Confidence: 15 Essential Food Kanji
Understanding these common terms can transform your dining experience from confusing to seamless. Here are the most critical ones to know:
The Basics: Ordering and Paying
- 注文 – Not “annotation,” but “place an order.” Say “Chūmon ī desu ka?” to ask if you can order.
- 勘定 – Definitely not “engineering survey.” It means “the bill” or “check.”
- 定番 – A must-order item; “standard” or “classic” dish you shouldn’t miss.
Free vs. Charged: Watch Your Wallet
- 無料 – Free of charge. But caution: “無料案内所” refers to adult entertainment establishments.
- 有料 – Paid or fee required. Always check before adding to your order.
Drinks: Not What They Seem
- お湯 – Not “mum’s soup.” It’s simply hot water. The word for soup is “スープ” (from English “soup”).
- お水 – Cold water. Useful when asking a waiter for a glass.
Vegetables and Seafood: Familiar Characters, Surprising Meanings
- 人参 – Not ginseng, but carrot.
- 大根 – Not “big root” in the Chinese sense. It’s daikon radish or white radish.
- 伊勢海老 – “Ebi” means shrimp, but this term specifically refers to lobster.
Meat and Cooking Methods
- 手羽先 – Nothing to do with feathers. It means chicken wings.
- 唐揚 – Deep-fried meat (often chicken), sometimes coated in starch or left unseasoned.
Ramen Lover’s Essential
- 替玉 – Extra noodles. Pay a small fee to add more ramen noodles to your bowl.
Portion Sizes Made Simple
- 並 – Regular size. Often paired with 盛 to mean “regular portion.”
- 大 – Large size. 大盛 means “large portion” or extra serving.
- 精進料理 – Vegetarian cuisine. A term derived from Buddhist practice.
The Bigger Picture: Cultural Literacy Enhances Travel
These linguistic pitfalls aren’t just amusing anecdotes—they reflect deeper cultural differences shaped by centuries of independent language evolution. While Hong Kong’s Cantonese and Japan’s Japanese both use Chinese characters, meanings diverged as each society developed unique food systems and customs.
For travellers, understanding these terms isn’t just about avoiding embarrassment. It’s about accessing authentic local experiences—knowing that “替玉” lets you customise your ramen, or that “精進料理” leads you to temple-style vegetarian meals you might otherwise overlook.
Your Next Steps: Practical Resources
Before your next trip, consider:
- Download the U Lifestyle App (available at https://onelink.to/ulapp2) for a visual guide to these 15 terms.
- Save a photo of this list on your phone for quick reference.
- Practice pronunciation: Japanese is phonetic, so saying “chūmon” correctly will get you better service.
As travel between Hong Kong and Japan continues to surge—projected to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2025—a little kanji knowledge goes a long way. The next time you spot “大根” on a menu, you’ll smile knowingly, order the braised radish, and savour not just the dish, but the satisfaction of having cracked the code.