栄養

えいよう

nutrition, nourishment

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"栄養" (えいよう) means "nutrition" or "nourishment." It refers to the substances in food that are necessary for growth, health, and energy. This word is commonly used in contexts related to diet, health, and food quality.

Common Contexts

You will often see "栄養" in discussions about balanced diets, healthy eating, and food content. For example, phrases like "栄養が豊富" (rich in nutrition) or "栄養を摂る" (to take in nutrition) are very common.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 栄養を摂る: to consume or take nutrition, often used when talking about eating healthy food.
  • 栄養が豊富: rich in nutrition, describing food or ingredients.
  • 栄養不足: nutritional deficiency, used in medical or health contexts.

Register and Usage Notes

"栄養" is a neutral and formal word suitable for everyday conversation, education, and health-related discussions. It is not casual slang but is widely understood and used.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "栄養" with "栄光" (えいこう, glory) due to similar pronunciation. Remember that "栄養" relates to food and health, while "栄光" relates to honor or glory.

Example Sentences

けんこうのためにバランスのよいえいようをとることがたいせつです。

It is important to take balanced nutrition for your health.

このスープはえいようがほうふで、からだにいいです。

This soup is rich in nutrition and good for the body.

こどものせいちょうにはじゅうぶんなえいようがひつようです。

Adequate nutrition is necessary for children's growth.