コーヒー

• Reading: コーヒー
• Romaji: koohii
• Pronunciation: /koː.çiː/

Meaning

Coffee. Covers all coffee beverages.

A loanword from Dutch/English. Japan has a thriving coffee culture with many kissaten (traditional coffee houses) and modern cafes. Canned coffee from vending machines is uniquely popular in Japan. Common variations include ブラックコーヒー (black coffee) and アイスコーヒー (iced coffee).

Examples

1. 毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。 I drink coffee every morning.
2. コーヒーに砂糖を入れますか。 Do you put sugar in your coffee?
3. あのカフェのコーヒーは有名です。 That cafe's coffee is famous.

Usage Guide

Context: cafes, daily life, workplace

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from Dutch 'koffie' during the Edo period when Dutch traders introduced coffee to Japan through Nagasaki. The katakana spelling reflects the Dutch pronunciation rather than English.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal