Shoppai is the Japanese word for ‘salty’, explained

What does “shoppai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “shoppai” to mean ‘salty’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “shoppai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “shoppai”
  • Example #1: how to say “salty” in Japanese
• Shoppakunai: the nai form of “shoppai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not salty” in Japanese
• Shoppakatta: the ta form of “shoppai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was salty” in Japanese
• Shoppakute: the te form of “shoppai”
  • Example #4: how to say “salty and” in Japanese
• Shoppakereba: the ba form of “shoppai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if salty” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “shoppai”

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

• shoppai – しょっぱい : an i-adjective meaning ‘salty’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe a salty taste. In addition, they occasionally use this to describe an unpleasant experience. It’s worth knowing, I think.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “salty” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “tabemono” to say “this food” in Japanese.
• tabemono – 食べ物 (たべもの) : a noun meaning ‘food’ or such in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono tabemono” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “shoppai”. In this example, it works as the complement. Like other adjectives, however, this can also work like a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “kono shoppai tabemono” to mean ‘this salty food’ in Japanese.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “shoppai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “shoppakunai”.

Shoppakunai: the nai form of “shoppai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “shoppakunai”.

• shoppakunai – しょっぱくない : the nai form of “shoppai”, which means ‘not salty’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shoppakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• shoppaku – しょっぱく : one conjugation of “shoppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shoppakunai” is literally the nai form of “shoppai” and means ‘not salty’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not salty” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kawa – 川 (かわ) : a noun meaning ‘river’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “kawa” and “mizu”. The formed phrase literally means ‘river water’ in Japanese.
• mizu – 水 (みず) : a noun meaning ‘water’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “shoppakunai”. When we want to mean ‘not salty’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Shoppakatta: the ta form of “shoppai”

Below are the definition and meanings of ‘shoppakatta’.

• shoppakatta – しょっぱかった : the ta form of “shoppai”, which means ‘was salty’, ‘were salty’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shoppakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• shoppakat – しょっぱかっ : one conjugation of “shoppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shoppakatta” is literally the ta form of “shoppai” and means ‘was salty’, ‘were salty’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was salty” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• umi – 海 (うみ) : a noun meaning ‘sea’ or ‘ocean’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “shoppakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “shoppai”, this ta form is the best option.

Shoppakute: the te form of “shoppai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “shoppakute”.

• shoppakute – しょっぱくて : the te form of “shoppai”, which means ‘salty’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shoppakute” consists of the following two parts:

• shoppaku – しょっぱく : one conjugation of “shoppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shoppakute” is literally the te form of “shoppai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “shoppakute” is very useful when we want to use “shoppai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “salty and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• chi – 血 (ち) : a noun meaning ‘blood’ in Japanese.
• kuroi – 黒い (くろい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘black’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “shoppakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kuroi”. When we want to use “shoppai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Shoppakereba: the ba form of “shoppai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “shoppakereba”.

• shoppakereba – しょっぱければ : the ba form of “shoppai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘salty’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shoppakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• shoppakere – しょっぱけれ : one conjugation of “shoppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shoppakereba” is literally the ba form of “shoppai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “shoppakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘salty’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if salty” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ryouri – 料理 (りょうり) : a noun meaning ‘dish’, ‘cuisine’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• 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 “ryouri” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• oshie – 教え (おしえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “oshieru“, which means ‘to tell’, ‘to teach’, ‘to let someone know’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “shoppakute”. In this example, this is used after “oshie” to make its te form, “oshie te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “oshie te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “shoppakereba”. In this example, it makes the conditional clause which means ‘if the dish is salty’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘salty’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of ‘shoppai’ together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• shoppai – しょっぱい : an i-adjective meaning ‘salty’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• shoppakunai – しょっぱくない : the nai form of “shoppai”, which means ‘not salty’ in Japanese.
• shoppakatta – しょっぱかった : the ta form of “shoppai”, which means ‘was salty’, ‘were salty’, or such in Japanese.
• shoppakute – しょっぱくて : the te form of “shoppai”, which means ‘salty’ in Japanese. When we want to use “shoppai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• shoppakereba – しょっぱければ : the ba form of “shoppai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘salty’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.