Fruit in Japanese: kudamono vs. kajitsu, explained in detail

How to say “fruit” in Japanese

Native speakers would say “kudamono” or “kajitsu” to mean ‘fruit’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know these two options as they are sometimes used in Japanese movies, songs, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain them in detail based on their kanji expressions. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “kudamono” and “kajitsu” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “kudamono”
• Kudamono in kanji
  • Example #1: how to use “kudamono”
• Definition and meanings of “kajitsu”
• Kajitsu in kanji
  • Example #2: how to use “kajitsu”
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “kudamono”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kudamono”.

• kudamono – 果物 (くだもの) : a noun meaning ‘fruit’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

This is a very specific word for something edible that grows on a plant. I mean that native speakers don’t use this noun as a metaphor for a result or outcome of something.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear, I think. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.

Kudamono in kanji

The kanji expression of “kudamono” consists of the following two characters:

• 果 : a kanji character often used to mean ‘result’, ‘outcome’, or ‘fruit’.
• 物 : a kanji character used to mean ‘thing’, ‘matter’, or ‘stuff’ in Japanese. Depending on the words used together, this can mean ‘something’ or ‘anything’ as well. This kanji character can also be found in other words like “tabemono” and “nomimono“.

From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “kudamono” literally means a ‘result and stuff’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not in line with the meaning, but still very close, I think. In the Japanese language, we can consider fruit as a result and stuff of growth of plants.

When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about meanings of words they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “kudamono” through the detailed kanji check above.

Then, let me explain how to use “kudamono” through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to use “kudamono”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kudamono” to make the object in the sentence.
• suki – 好き (すき) : one conjugation of the na-adjective, “sukina”, which means ‘favorite’ in Japanese. Native speakers, however, often use this as an individual word to mean ‘to like’ or ‘to love’ in Japanese. In the example, actually, this is used to mean ‘to like’.
• desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “suki” to make it sound polite.

This is a typical usage of “kudamono”. In this example, it works as the object in the sentence and means ‘fruit’ in Japanese. When we want to say “fruit” in Japanese, this noun is a very good option.

Definition and meanings of “kajitsu”

Next, let me explain the definition and meanings of “kajitsu”.

• kajitsu – 果実 (かじつ) : a noun meaning ‘fruit’, ‘gain’, or ‘profit’ in Japanese.

Unlike “kudamono”, “kajitsu” is not a word only for ‘fruit’. Native speakers sometimes use this noun as a metaphor for ‘gain’, ‘profit’, or perhaps ‘income’. So, it focuses more on a good result of something. Even when it is used to mean ‘fruit’, it doesn’t necessarily mean something edible that grows on a plant. It means fruit as a result of plant growth in general.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.

Kajitsu in kanji

The kanji expression of “kajitsu” consists of the following two characters:

• 果 : the same as explained above. This is a kanji character often used to mean ‘result’, ‘outcome’, or ‘fruit’.
• 実 : a kanji character often used to express the act of growing or ripening.

From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “kajitsu” literally means a ‘grown result’. For plant growth, therefore, this can mean fruit. For other processes, this can mean their results in general.

Then, let me explain how to use “kajitsu” through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to use “kajitsu”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kore – これ : a demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘this’ in Japanese. This can be used to refer to something close to the speaker.
• keizai – 経済 (けいざい) : a noun meaning ‘economy’ in Japanese. In the Japanese language, we can join two nouns to make a longer noun. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. So, “keizai” can work to describe “hatten” in this example.
• hatten – 発展 (はってん) : a noun meaning ‘development’, ‘growth’, or such in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “keizai hatten” and “kajitsu”. The formed phrase literally means ‘fruit of economic development’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to that of the English preposition, “of”.

This is a typical usage of “kajitsu”. In the example, it works as a part of the noun phrase, “keizai hatten no kajitsu”, which means ‘the fruit of economic development’. When we want to say “fruit” as a metaphor for a good result of something in Japanese, this noun is a very good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definitions and meanings of “kudamono” and “kajitsu” in detail based on their kanji expressions. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kudamono – 果物 (くだもの) : a noun meaning ‘fruit’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. This is a very specific word for something edible that grows on a plant. I mean that native speakers don’t use this as a metaphor for a result or outcome of something. These two kanji characters literally mean a ‘result and stuff’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not in line with the meaning, but still very close, I think. In the Japanese language, we can consider fruit as a result and stuff of growth of plants.
• kajitsu – 果実 (かじつ) : a noun meaning ‘fruit’, ‘gain’, or ‘profit’ in Japanese. Unlike “kudamono”, “kajitsu” is not a word only for ‘fruit’. Native speakers sometimes use this noun as a metaphor for ‘gain’, ‘profit’, or perhaps ‘income’. So, this focuses more on a good result of something. Even when this is used to mean ‘fruit’, it doesn’t necessarily mean something edible that grows on a plant. It means fruit as a result of plant growth in general.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.