Hong Kong travellers flock to Japan by the millions each year, eager to indulge in what many affectionately call their “second home.” But when the menu arrives, even seasoned visitors can find themselves ordering something entirely unexpected. Those familiar kanji characters staring back from the page? They often tell a very different story than what Chinese speakers assume.
A new guide circulating among Hong Kong food lovers highlights 15 commonly misunderstood Japanese menu words—terms that appear deceptively similar to Chinese but carry completely different meanings. For anyone planning their next Tokyo sushi crawl or Osaka ramen run, knowing these could save both embarrassment and appetite.
The Classics That Confuse Everyone
Ordering and Paying
Two of the most critical restaurant phrases trip up visitors daily. “注文” (chūmon) has nothing to do with annotations—it simply means “to order.” Walk into any ramen shop and ask “Chūmon ī desu ka?” to signal you’re ready. Meanwhile, “勘定” (kanjō) isn’t about engineering calculations; it’s the bill. Mastering these two alone transforms a meal from awkward to effortless.
Free vs. Charged
“無料” (muryō) looks like it might mean “no skill” in Chinese, but in Japan, it’s the welcome sight meaning “free of charge.” Spot it on a menu and rejoice. Conversely, “有料” (yūryō) signals an additional fee. And a word of caution: those “無料案內所” signs you see on city streets? They’re not free tourist information centres—they’re adult entertainment establishments.
Kitchen Confusion: What’s Actually on Your Plate
Vegetables Masquerading as Something Else
“人参” (ninjin) in Japanese has nothing to do with ginseng. It’s the humble carrot. Similarly, “大根” (daikon) isn’t a descriptor for something large—it’s the white radish that appears in everything from oden to grated toppings. Order thinking you’re getting a giant root vegetable, and you’ll be perfectly correct—just not the one you expected.
Seafood with Grand Titles
“伊勢海老” (ise ebi) sounds impossibly majestic. The “海老” portion, meaning shrimp in Japanese (yes, the long whiskers resemble an elder’s beard), combines with “伊勢” to create something even grander: lobster. Not shrimp, not prawn—lobster. Your wallet will notice the difference.
Poultry Without Feathers
“手羽先” (tebasaki) contains the character for “feather,” but these are chicken wings through and through. Perfect with a cold beer, they’re a izakaya staple that no translation guide should overlook.
Ramen Shop Essentials
For those who live for tonkotsu broth, “替玉” (kaedama) is the magic word. It means an extra serving of noodles—not a replacement egg, as Chinese speakers might guess. Pay the small supplement, hand over your empty bowl, and watch your ramen resurrection unfold.
Portion sizes also require translation. “並” (nami) indicates a regular serving (“並盛,” or namimori), while “大” (dai) means large (“大盛,” or ōmori). Simple enough—until you realise that “大” alone can mean “big” in both languages, but the Japanese use it for upsized portions specifically.
Hot and Cold: Beverage Basics
“お湯” (oyu) looks like it should be soup—after all, “湯” means soup in Chinese. In Japan? It’s hot water. Soup is “スープ” (sūpu), borrowed from English. And “お水” (omizu) means cold water, not just any water. Ask for these correctly, and your table service improves immediately.
For the Conscious Eater
“精進料理” (shōjin ryōri) combines characters suggesting “improvement” and “advancement,” but it actually refers to Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. No meat, no fish, no animal products—just pure plant-based cooking rooted in temple traditions. It’s a far cry from any Chinese interpretation of “refined cooking.”
A Deeper Cultural Lesson
These linguistic pitfalls reveal something larger than menu misunderstandings. They reflect how two cultures, sharing a writing system, evolved dramatically different culinary worlds. For Hong Kong’s Japan-bound travellers—numbering over two million annually pre-pandemic—learning these distinctions isn’t just practical; it’s a gateway to deeper appreciation.
Next steps for the savvy diner: Before your next trip, memorise these 15 terms. Download a translation app specifically for menu reading. And when in doubt, point and smile—but at least now you’ll know what you’re pointing at.
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