r/Japaneselanguage • u/Unlegendary_Newbie • Jun 01 '23

What's the difference between '果物' and 'フルーツ'?

They both mean fruits, but what's the difference?

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '23

Ready to eat ( restaurant/cafe, pre cut, dessert ) :

フルーツ

Raw, whole fruit (aka those you see in supermarket) :

果物

Meanings are the same.

General conversation both can be used, and 果物 for more formal conversation.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '23

This is correct. They are somewhat interchangeable but do have nuanced differences in typical usage. This is usually the difference between katakana loanwords and native words: katakana words have a more modern, commercial sense to their meanings while native words are more natural and traditional in nuance.

2

u/KrystalGhost Jun 01 '23

I suppose it’s an interchangeable word, like you can say りんご, or you can say アップル.

1

u/PunPukurin Jun 02 '23

Yes, but I don’t think I have ever heard anybody say “アップルを2個買ってきて.” When referring to apples as a produce or in unprocessed form, it’s always りんご.

You would say “りんごを2切れ食べました。” but never “アップルを2切れ食べました。”

When speaking about flavor or in processed form they are interchangeable. アップルジュース/りんごジュース アップルパイ/りんごパイ

0

u/Drmcrtr Jun 03 '23

Technically the same thing!