チーズ

• Reading: チーズ
• Romaji: chiizu
• Pronunciation: /tɕiː.zɯ/

Meaning

Cheese. A loanword from English used for all types of cheese.

A katakana noun borrowed from English. Used broadly for any cheese product, from sliced cheese (スライスチーズ) to cream cheese (クリームチーズ). Also famously used as the Japanese equivalent of saying 'cheese' when taking photos.

Examples

1. このピザにはチーズがたっぷり乗っている。 This pizza is loaded with cheese.
2. スーパーでチーズを三種類買ってきた。 I bought three kinds of cheese at the supermarket.
3. 写真を撮るとき、みんなでチーズと言った。 When we took the photo, everyone said 'cheese.

Usage Guide

Context: food, cooking, shopping

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from English 'cheese,' which itself derives from Latin 'caseus.' Entered Japanese during the Meiji era as Western foods became more widely available.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal