Japanese Word of the Day: おかわり (okawari)

Not all portions are created equal, and sometimes you want more. If you need an extra helping of rice, just say おかわり, or okawari, which means “seconds” in Japanese.

Pronunciation isn’t hard for this one, broken down by character it’s oh-ka-wa-ri, with “ri” pronounced “ree” like “reel.”

You’ll hear a lot of kids yelling this in Japanese homes, but if you’re an adult you’ll want to add ください (kudasai) at the end to make it おかわりください. This basically adds “please,” to make it a little more formal. Next time you’re in need of more food at a restaurant, just say the magic words: おかわりください / okawari kudasai!

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