When you want to express that you have completely finished eating something, you can use the verb 平らげる (tairageru). It implies eating everything without leaving anything behind, often with a sense of accomplishment or quickness. For example, if you were very hungry and ate all your food, you could say you 平らげた (tairageta) it. This word is more common when talking about finishing a whole dish or meal, not just a bite. It's a useful verb to know for describing a meal that has been fully enjoyed or consumed.
When you've eaten everything on your plate, you can use the verb 平らげる (tairageru). It implies finishing all the food, often with a sense of having eaten heartily or completely devoured it.
It's similar to saying "to polish off" or "to finish up" a meal in English. For example, if you eat all the cake, you could say you ケーキを平らげた (kēki o tairageta). This verb is commonly used in everyday conversation.
When you want to express the idea of completely finishing a meal or devouring everything, the verb 平らげる (tairageru) is a useful term. It implies eating everything without leaving anything behind, often with a sense of satisfaction or thoroughness. You'll often hear it in situations where someone has eaten a large quantity of food or found a meal particularly delicious and consumed it all.
When you want to express the idea of completely finishing a meal or devouring all the food, the verb 平らげる (tairageru) is a good choice. It implies that the food has been entirely consumed, often with a sense of satisfaction or thoroughness.
While similar to other verbs meaning 'to eat' like 食べる (taberu) or 済ませる (sumaseru), 平らげる specifically emphasizes the act of finishing everything. It's particularly useful when you want to highlight that no food was left behind.
平らげる in 30 Seconds
- finish eating
- devour
- eat completely
§ Understanding 平らげる (tairageru)
Let's break down 平らげる (tairageru). This verb generally means 'to finish eating' or 'to devour'. It's often used when someone has eaten everything on their plate or a large quantity of food. Think of it as leaving nothing behind.
While it translates to 'to finish eating', it carries a slightly different nuance than simply 食べ終わる (tabeowaru), which is a more neutral way to say 'to finish eating'. 平らげる implies a more thorough or even enthusiastic completion of a meal. It suggests that the food was eaten completely, sometimes quickly, or with great satisfaction. It can also imply a large amount of food was consumed.
§ When to use 平らげる
You'll typically hear or use 平らげる in situations where the act of finishing the food is emphasized. Here are some common scenarios:
- When someone eats a lot of food quickly.
- When someone eats all the food available.
- When expressing satisfaction after eating everything.
- Sometimes, it can have a slightly informal or even humorous tone, especially when talking about a large appetite.
It's not typically used in very formal contexts. For example, if you're talking about finishing a business lunch, you'd probably stick with 食べ終わる. But if your friend just polished off three bowls of ramen, 平らげる would be a great fit.
- DEFINITION
- To finish eating; to devour. Often implies eating completely, quickly, or a large amount.
§ Examples of 平らげる in use
彼はラーメンをあっという間に平らげた。
Kare wa ramen o attoiuma ni tairageta.
He devoured the ramen in no time.
子供たちは出されたお菓子を全部平らげた。
Kodomotachi wa dasareta okashi o zenbu tairageta.
The children finished off all the sweets they were given.
こんなにたくさんの料理を一人で平らげられるなんてすごいね。
Konna ni takusan no ryōri o hitori de tairagerareru nante sugoi ne.
It's amazing that you can devour this much food all by yourself.
§ Mistakes people make with 平らげる
“平らげる” (tairageru) means “to finish eating” or “to devour.” It's a useful verb, but it comes with some nuances that often trip up learners. Let's look at the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
§ Mistake 1: Using it for simply “eating”
The biggest mistake is using ⁿ平らげるⁿ when you just mean “to eat” (食べる, taberu). ⁿ平らげるⁿ implies finishing something completely, often with a sense of effort or a large quantity. It’s not a general word for consuming food.
- DEFINITION
- Don't use 平らげる for simple acts of eating. Reserve it for when you finish something entirely or devour it.
Compare these examples:
昨日、すしを食べました。 (Yesterday, I ate sushi.)
他はラーメンを二杯平らげた。 (He devoured two bowls of ramen.)
§ Mistake 2: Incorrect particle usage
When using ⁿ平らげるⁿ, the direct object is marked with the particle ⁿをⁿ (o). This is standard for transitive verbs, but sometimes learners get confused and might try to use ⁿがⁿ (ga) or ⁿでⁿ (de) by mistake, especially if they're thinking of other verbs. The item being finished or devoured is always the direct object.
- DEFINITION
- Always use the particle を (o) to mark the food item that is being devoured or finished when using 平らげる.
僕はピザを一枚平らげました。 (I devoured a whole pizza.)
§ Mistake 3: Overuse in formal contexts
ⁿ平らげるⁿ carries a strong nuance of consuming something completely, sometimes with a sense of eagerness or even gluttony. While it's not inherently impolite, it's generally more common in casual or descriptive contexts. Using it in very formal situations might sound a little too informal or even crude, depending on the context. For general “finish eating,” ⁿ食べ終わるⁿ (tabeowaru) or ⁿ食べきるⁿ (tabekiru) might be more neutral choices.
- DEFINITION
- 平らげる is best suited for casual or descriptive speech. Use more neutral terms like 食べ終わる or 食べきる in formal situations.
お客様、お食事を食べ終わりましたか？ (Customer, have you finished your meal?)
Instead of:
※お客様、お食事を平らげましたか？ (Incorrect in formal contexts)
§ Recap: Key points for 平らげる
- ⁿ平らげるⁿ is for finishing food completely, often a large amount, or devouring it.
- Always use the particle ⁿをⁿ with the direct object.
- It's more suitable for casual and descriptive language than formal settings.
By keeping these points in mind, you'll use ⁿ平らげるⁿ correctly and sound more natural in your Japanese conversations. Good luck!
§ What 平らげる Means
Let's get straight to it. 平らげる (tairageru) means 'to finish eating' or 'to devour'. It often implies eating everything quickly or completely, leaving nothing behind. Think of it as 'wiping the plate clean'.
- Japanese Word
- 平らげる (たいらげる)
- Type
- Verb (Ichidan)
- CEFR Level
- B1
§ Examples of 平らげる in Sentences
Here are some practical examples of how 平らげる is used. Pay attention to the context.
彼は出された料理をあっという間に平らげた。
- Hint
- He finished all the food served in no time.
子供たちはデザートをすべて平らげてしまった。
- Hint
- The children devoured all the dessert.
お腹が空いていたので、定食をきれいに平らげた。
- Hint
- I was hungry, so I completely finished the set meal.
§ Similar Words and When to Use 平らげる
You might be thinking, "Aren't there other words for eating?" Yes, there are. Let's compare 平らげる to some common alternatives.
- 食べる (taberu): This is the most basic and general word for 'to eat'. It doesn't carry any particular nuance about how much or how quickly something is eaten. You just 'eat' something.
ご飯を食べる。
- Hint
- To eat a meal.
- 完食する (kanshokusu-ru): This means 'to finish eating completely'. It's very close in meaning to 平らげる. However, 完食する is a bit more formal and often used in situations where finishing all the food is noteworthy, like a challenge or a compliment to the chef. It's a bit more neutral than 平らげる regarding the 'devouring' aspect.
彼はラーメンをすべて完食した。
- Hint
- He finished all the ramen.
- 食い尽くす (kuitsukusu): This also means 'to eat up completely' or 'to devour everything'. It carries a stronger nuance of eating everything until nothing is left, often with a sense of urgency or greed. It can sometimes have a slightly negative or aggressive connotation depending on context, implying eating something completely to deplete it. 平らげる is generally more neutral or even positive, especially when expressing satisfaction or a good appetite.
彼らは冷蔵庫の中のものを食い尽くした。
- Hint
- They ate everything in the refrigerator.
§ When to Use 平らげる
Use 平らげる when you want to emphasize that someone:
- Finished all the food.
- Ate quickly.
- Ate with enthusiasm or a good appetite.
- Left absolutely nothing on the plate.
It's a great word for when you want to express the satisfaction of finishing a delicious meal or remark on someone's hearty eating. It's more descriptive than just 食べる and often implies a certain level of commitment to finishing the food.
How Formal Is It?
"お客様が料理を全て召し上がられました。"
"出された食事は全て食べきりましょう。"
"彼はラーメンをあっという間に平らげたよ。"
"ご飯をピカピカにして偉いね！"
"この大盛り、完食は無理だろ…マジかよ！"
Fun Fact
This word emphasizes the complete consumption of food, often implying a hearty appetite or that the food was particularly delicious.
Pronunciation Guide
- Mispronouncing the 'r' sound (it's a flapped 'r' like in Spanish, not an English 'r')
- Incorrect vowel length for 'ai' and 'e'
Difficulty Rating
Hiragana and common kanji. Kanji '平' is common, 'らげる' is hiragana.
Requires knowledge of '平' kanji and correct hiragana for 'らげる'.
Pronunciation is straightforward: 'ta-i-ra-ge-ru'.
Clear pronunciation, easy to distinguish.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
ご飯を全部平らげた。
I finished all the rice.
彼はラーメンをすぐに平らげた。
He quickly devoured the ramen.
子供がおやつを平らげた。
The child finished the snack.
私はパンを平らげた。
I ate all the bread.
みんなでケーキを平らげた。
Everyone finished the cake together.
犬が餌を平らげた。
The dog devoured its food.
彼女はリンゴを平らげた。
She finished the apple.
彼らは夕食を平らげた。
They finished dinner.
子供たちはケーキをあっという間に平らげた。
The children ate the cake very quickly.
彼はラーメンをきれいに平らげた。
He finished the ramen completely.
お皿の上の食べ物を全部平らげなさい。
Finish all the food on your plate.
私は朝食をすぐに平らげて仕事に行った。
I quickly ate breakfast and went to work.
彼女は残っていたお菓子を一人で平らげた。
She ate all the leftover sweets by herself.
みんなでピザをあっという間に平らげた。
Everyone quickly finished the pizza.
彼は大きなハンバーガーをあっという間に平らげた。
He quickly devoured the big hamburger.
犬はご飯をすぐに平らげた。
The dog quickly ate its food.
子供たちは出された食事をあっという間に平らげた。
The children quickly finished all the food they were served.
あっという間に (atto iu ma ni): in the blink of an eye, very quickly.
彼は大きなハンバーガーを三つも平らげた。
He devoured three large hamburgers.
～も (~mo): indicates a surprisingly large quantity.
忙しくて、お弁当を急いで平らげた。
I was busy, so I quickly ate my lunchbox.
～て (~te): connects clauses, indicating reason or sequence.
友人との食事で、美味しい料理を全て平らげた。
At dinner with friends, we finished all the delicious food.
全て (subete): all, every.
食欲旺盛な彼は、一人でピザを一枚平らげた。
With a healthy appetite, he finished an entire pizza by himself.
食欲旺盛な (shokuyoku ōsei na): having a healthy appetite, ravenous.
パーティーで出されたケーキは、あっという間に平らげられた。
The cake served at the party was eaten up in no time.
～られる (~rareru): passive voice.
残業で疲れて、家に帰ってすぐに夕食を平らげた。
Tired from overtime work, I quickly ate dinner as soon as I got home.
～て (~te): connects clauses, indicating reason or sequence.
ダイエット中だったが、誘惑に負けてチョコレートを平らげた。
Even though I was on a diet, I gave in to temptation and finished the chocolate.
～に負ける (~ni makeru): to give in to, to succumb to.
目の前の料理をあっという間に平らげた。
I quickly finished the food in front of me.
子供たちは出されたおやつを全部平らげた。
The children devoured all the snacks they were given.
彼はラーメンをものの数分で平らげた。
He finished the ramen in just a few minutes.
残っていたケーキは、私が一人で平らげてしまった。
I ended up eating all the remaining cake by myself.
運動した後だったので、ご飯を三杯も平らげた。
Since I had exercised, I ate three bowls of rice.
彼女は辛いカレーを汗をかきながらも平らげた。
She finished the spicy curry even while sweating.
パーティーの料理は、あっという間に参加者たちに平らげられた。
The party food was quickly devoured by the attendees.
徹夜明けの朝、彼はパンを五枚も平らげた。
After an all-nighter, he ate five slices of bread in the morning.
子供たちは出された食事をあっという間に平らげた。
The children quickly finished all the food they were served.
彼は目の前のケーキをたった数分で平らげた。
He devoured the cake in front of him in just a few minutes.
残業で疲れていたので、夕食を平らげるのに時間はかからなかった。
I was tired from overtime, so it didn't take long to finish dinner.
犬は与えられた餌を一瞬で平らげてしまった。
The dog instantly wolfed down the food it was given.
食欲旺盛な彼は、いつも大盛りご飯を平らげている。
He, with his hearty appetite, always polishes off a large bowl of rice.
準備されたすべての料理を彼女は一人で平らげた。
She finished all the prepared dishes by herself.
彼らは旅行先で地元の名物を残さず平らげた。
They ate all the local specialties without leaving any at their travel destination.
運動後でお腹が空いていたので、定食をあっという間に平らげた。
I was hungry after exercising, so I quickly finished the set meal.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
彼はあっという間にラーメンを平らげた。
He finished the ramen in no time.
子供たちは出されたお菓子を全部平らげた。
The children finished all the snacks that were served.
疲れていたので、ご飯をあっという間に平らげた。
I was tired, so I finished my meal quickly.
彼女は残さずきれいに料理を平らげた。
She finished the food completely and neatly.
お腹が空いていたので、すぐにカレーを平らげてしまった。
I was hungry, so I finished the curry right away.
こんなにたくさんの料理を一人で平らげられるの？
Can you finish this much food by yourself?
彼は出されたパンを全て平らげた。
He finished all the bread that was served.
みんなで協力して、大きなピザを平らげた。
Everyone cooperated to finish the big pizza.
朝食を平らげてから、仕事に出かけた。
After finishing breakfast, I went to work.
美味しかったので、あっという間に全部平らげてしまった。
It was delicious, so I finished everything in no time.
Often Confused With
General 'to eat'.
Formal 'to finish eating all'.
Emphasizes eating everything until nothing is left.
Easily Confused
Both 食べる and 平らげる mean 'to eat', but they have different nuances.
食べる is a general term for eating. 平らげる specifically implies finishing all the food, often quickly or with great appetite, like 'devouring'.
ご飯を食べる。(Gohan o taberu.) - To eat a meal. / 食事を平らげる。(Shokuji o tairageru.) - To finish/devour a meal.
Both can relate to 'finishing'.
終わる means 'to finish' in a general sense (e.g., work, a task). 平らげる is specifically about finishing food.
仕事が終わる。(Shigoto ga owaru.) - Work finishes. / 食事を平らげる。(Shokuji o tairageru.) - To finish/devour a meal.
This also means 'to finish eating all of something'.
完食する is a more formal or specific term for eating everything, often used in contexts like finishing a challenge or a set meal. 平らげる can be more casual and emphasizes the act of quickly consuming.
彼はラーメンを完食した。(Kare wa ramen o kanshoku shita.) - He finished all the ramen. / 彼はラーメンを平らげた。(Kare wa ramen o tairageta.) - He devoured the ramen.
Similar to 'devour' or 'eat up completely'.
食い尽くす strongly emphasizes eating everything until nothing is left, often with a sense of depletion. 平らげる focuses more on the act of quickly or heartily finishing the food.
冷蔵庫の食料を食い尽くした。(Reizouko no shokuryou o kuitsukushita.) - I ate up all the food in the fridge. / 食事を平らげた。(Shokuji o tairageta.) - I finished/devoured the meal.
Can be confused if thinking about 'clearing away' food.
片付ける means 'to tidy up' or 'put away'. While you might tidy up after eating, 平らげる is about the act of eating itself, not the cleanup.
部屋を片付ける。(Heya o katazukeru.) - To tidy up a room. / 食事を平らげる。(Shokuji o tairageru.) - To finish/devour a meal.
How to Use It
How to use 平らげる
平らげる (tairageru) is a verb that means to finish eating, often with the nuance of eating everything completely or quickly. It implies that there's nothing left.
It's commonly used when someone eats a large amount of food, or when they eat something with gusto until it's all gone. You might hear it in situations where a child devours a meal, or an adult finishes off a big plate of food.
Examples:
- 彼はご飯を平らげた。 (Kare wa gohan o tairageta.) - He finished his meal. (Implying he ate everything on his plate.)
- 子供たちはケーキをあっという間に平らげた。 (Kodomo-tachi wa kēki o atto iu ma ni tairageta.) - The children devoured the cake in no time.
- 私はラーメンを全部平らげた。 (Watashi wa rāmen o zenbu tairageta.) - I ate all the ramen. (Implying I finished it completely.)
Common Mistakes with 平らげる
The most common mistake is using 平らげる interchangeably with general verbs for eating like 食べる (taberu) when the nuance of completely finishing or devouring isn't present.
- Incorrect: 毎日りんごを平らげる。 (Mainichi ringo o tairageru.) - I devour an apple every day. (This sounds unnatural if you're just saying you eat an apple daily; 食べる is more appropriate.)
- Correct: 毎日りんごを食べる。 (Mainichi ringo o taberu.) - I eat an apple every day.
- Correct (if the nuance fits): 彼は目の前のりんごをあっという間に平らげた。 (Kare wa me no mae no ringo o atto iu ma ni tairageta.) - He devoured the apple in front of him in no time.
Remember, 平らげる carries a stronger sense of finishing completely or with enthusiasm. If you're just stating that you ate something, 食べる is usually the more neutral and appropriate choice.
Word Origin
From '平らぐ' (tairagu), meaning 'to become flat' or 'to settle down,' combined with the suffix '〜る' (ru) indicating completion or action.
Original meaning: The original meaning likely referred to making a pile of food 'flat' by consuming it all, or settling down the hunger.
JaponicCultural Context
<h3>Cultural Context:</h3><p>While '平らげる' (tairageru) means to finish eating, it often carries a nuance of eating everything enthusiastically, leaving nothing behind. It's a positive way to describe someone enjoying their meal thoroughly, and can be used to commend a child for eating all their vegetables, or a guest for appreciating a home-cooked meal.</p>
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsWhile both mean 'to eat,' “平らげる” (tairageru) specifically implies finishing all of the food, often quickly or with great appetite. “食べる” (taberu) is a more general term for eating.
Yes, you can use it for various types of food, from a simple meal to a large dish. The nuance is always about eating it all up.
It's generally a neutral to slightly informal verb. It's not rude, but you might not use it in very formal business settings when describing your own eating habits. When talking about someone else, it can sometimes imply a hearty appetite.
Often, yes. The act of 'devouring' or 'finishing everything' suggests a good appetite or hunger. It highlights the completeness of the eating action.
You'd use it when someone finished a large portion of food, ate everything on their plate, or quickly consumed a meal. For example, after a long hike, you might “平らげる” (tairageru) a big bowl of ramen.
The kanji “平” (hei/taira) usually means 'flat' or 'peaceful.' In this verb, it's read 'taira' and combined with the verb ending '-geru,' which might be less intuitive than other kanji readings. Just remember the specific reading for this verb.
Not commonly in the same way as 'devour' in English (e.g., 'devour a book'). It's almost exclusively used for eating food completely. Stick to its literal meaning for food.
The past tense is “平らげた” (tairageta). For example, “全部平らげた” (Zenbu tairageta) means 'I ate it all.'
Yes, it's a fairly common verb, especially when talking about finishing a meal, expressing satisfaction after eating, or describing someone with a good appetite.
You could consider “食い尽くす” (kuitsukusu - to eat up completely) as similar, though “平らげる” (tairageru) often carries a more active, almost forceful nuance of finishing the food.
Test Yourself 102 questions
Which word means 'to finish eating'?
Among the options, 平らげる specifically means to finish eating or devour something completely.
If you '平らげる' your lunch, what did you do?
平らげる means to eat everything, to devour.
Which sentence uses '平らげる' correctly?
平らげる is used for finishing food. The other options are incorrect as they don't involve eating.
The word 平らげる (tairageru) means 'to play a game'.
平らげる means to finish eating or devour, not to play a game.
You can use 平らげる (tairageru) when you eat all your food.
平らげる is used to describe finishing all of your food, often with the nuance of devouring it.
平らげる (tairageru) is a noun.
平らげる is a verb, meaning 'to finish eating' or 'to devour'.
He finished all the rice.
The child devoured the cake in an instant.
She completely finished the meal she was served.
Read this aloud:
全部平らげました。
Focus: たいらげました (tairagemashita)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
早く平らげてね。
Focus: たいらげてね (tairagete ne)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彼はお菓子を平らげた。
Focus: たいらげた (tairageta)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you just finished a delicious meal. Write a simple Japanese sentence expressing that you finished eating everything. Use '平らげた'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は全部平らげた。
Your friend ate all the cake. Write a Japanese sentence saying 'My friend ate all the cake.' using '平らげた'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
友達がケーキを全部平らげた。
You are very hungry and want to eat everything quickly. Write a simple Japanese sentence about wanting to quickly '平らげる' something.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
早くこれを平らげたい。
What did the speaker do with their breakfast?
Read this passage:
私は朝ごはんを全部平らげました。とても美味しかったです。
What did the speaker do with their breakfast?
「全部平らげました」means 'ate all of it' or 'finished eating everything'.
「全部平らげました」means 'ate all of it' or 'finished eating everything'.
Why did the child eat the candy quickly?
Read this passage:
子供はキャンディーをすぐに平らげた。お腹が空いていた。
Why did the child eat the candy quickly?
「お腹が空いていた」means 'was hungry'.
「お腹が空いていた」means 'was hungry'.
How did he eat the ramen?
Read this passage:
彼はラーメンをきれいに平らげた。満足そうだった。
How did he eat the ramen?
「きれいに平らげた」means 'finished eating it neatly' or 'ate all of it without leaving anything'. 「満足そうだった」means 'looked satisfied'.
「きれいに平らげた」means 'finished eating it neatly' or 'ate all of it without leaving anything'. 「満足そうだった」means 'looked satisfied'.
This sentence means 'I finished the meal.' The particles 'は' and 'を' mark the subject and object respectively. '平らげた' is the past tense of '平らげる'.
This means 'He ate everything.' '全部' means 'everything' or 'all'.
This sentence means 'The child finished the snack.' 'おやつ' means 'snack'.
ご飯を全部＿＿＿。
The verb 平らげる (tairageru) means to finish eating or devour. While 食べます (tabemasu) means to eat, 平らげます is more fitting for completely finishing something, especially a meal.
お皿の料理をすべて＿＿＿。
平らげる (tairageru) is the appropriate verb when someone finishes all the food on their plate, implying nothing is left.
彼はラーメンをあっという間に＿＿＿。
あっという間に (atto iu ma ni) means 'in the blink of an eye' or 'very quickly'. Combined with 平らげる (tairageru), it conveys that he quickly devoured the ramen.
朝ごはんをしっかり＿＿＿、学校へ行きました。
The sentence implies the action of completely finishing breakfast before going to school. 平らげる (tairageru) fits this context perfectly.
たくさん作ったのに、子供たちがすぐに＿＿＿。
This sentence suggests that even though a lot of food was made, the children finished it quickly. 平らげる (tairageru) is suitable for this situation.
デザートも全部＿＿＿、お腹がいっぱいです。
The phrase お腹がいっぱいです (onaka ga ippai desu - I'm full) indicates that all the dessert was consumed. Therefore, 平らげました (tairagemashita) is the correct verb.
This sentence means 'I finished all the rice.' The particles を and を mark the direct objects. 全部 (zenbu) means 'all'.
This sentence means 'He devoured the cake in no time.' あっという間に (attoiumani) means 'in no time' or 'in an instant'.
This sentence means 'I was hungry, so I finished it quickly.' お腹が空いていた (onaka ga suiteita) means 'I was hungry'. すぐに (sugu ni) means 'immediately' or 'quickly'.
Choose the most appropriate meaning for 平らげる (tairageru).
平らげる specifically refers to finishing a meal or eating something completely, often with the nuance of eating it quickly or voraciously.
Which sentence correctly uses 平らげる (tairageru)?
平らげる is used when someone finishes eating something. '彼はあっという間にラーメンを平らげた' means 'He finished the ramen in no time.'
What is the most natural way to say 'She devoured the whole cake' in Japanese using 平らげる?
「彼女はケーキを全部平らげた」 (Kanojo wa kēki o zenbu tairageta) directly translates to 'She devoured the whole cake,' which is a perfect use of 平らげる.
You can use 平らげる to say 'I finished my homework.'
平らげる is exclusively used for finishing food or drink. You would use 終わる (owaru) for homework.
If someone eats a meal very quickly and completely, you can use 平らげる to describe it.
平らげる often carries the nuance of eating something quickly or voraciously, fitting this description well.
The word 平らげる (tairageru) means 'to make something flat'.
While the character 平 (hira) means 'flat', 平らげる specifically means 'to finish eating' or 'to devour' in this context. To make something flat would be something like 平らにする (taira ni suru).
You just finished a delicious meal your friend cooked. Write a short message thanking them and mentioning that you ate everything.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
料理、とても美味しかったです！全部平らげました。本当にありがとう！
Describe a time you were very hungry and quickly finished a meal. Use '平らげる' in your description.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨日の夜、とてもお腹が空いていたので、出された料理をあっという間に平らげました。
Imagine you are at a restaurant. Write a sentence telling the waiter that you finished your food and it was very good.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
お料理、全て平らげました。とても美味しかったです。
What does the passage imply about the child?
Read this passage:
子供は出されたお菓子をあっという間に平らげた。お腹が空いていたのだろう。
What does the passage imply about the child?
'あっという間に平らげた' means to quickly finish eating. The phrase 'お腹が空いていたのだろう' (must have been hungry) further supports this.
'あっという間に平らげた' means to quickly finish eating. The phrase 'お腹が空いていたのだろう' (must have been hungry) further supports this.
What is the man's enjoyment?
Read this passage:
彼はいつも仕事の後にラーメンを平らげる。それが彼の楽しみだ。
What is the man's enjoyment?
The passage states 'それが彼の楽しみだ' (that is his enjoyment) immediately after mentioning he 'いつも仕事の後にラーメンを平らげる' (always devours ramen after work).
The passage states 'それが彼の楽しみだ' (that is his enjoyment) immediately after mentioning he 'いつも仕事の後にラーメンを平らげる' (always devours ramen after work).
What can be inferred about the man?
Read this passage:
夕食に出された大きなステーキを、彼は残さず平らげた。相当お腹が空いていたようだ。
What can be inferred about the man?
'残さず平らげた' means he finished it all without leaving anything, and '相当お腹が空いていたようだ' directly translates to 'he seemed quite hungry'.
'残さず平らげた' means he finished it all without leaving anything, and '相当お腹が空いていたようだ' directly translates to 'he seemed quite hungry'.
The children quickly finished the food that was served.
He devoured the ramen in just a few minutes.
I'm happy that you finished all the food I worked hard to make.
Read this aloud:
食欲旺盛な彼は、いつも大盛りご飯を平らげる。
Focus: 食欲旺盛 (shokuyoku ōsei), 大盛り (ōmori), 平らげる (tairageru)
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Read this aloud:
忙しい一日を終え、彼女は夕食を平らげた後、すぐに寝た。
Focus: 忙しい (isogashii), 終え (oe), 夕食 (yūshoku), 平らげた (tairageta), 寝た (neta)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
パーティーでは、用意されたケーキがあっという間に平らげられた。
Focus: パーティー (pātī), 用意された (yōi sareta), ケーキ (kēki), あっという間に (atto iu ma ni), 平らげられた (tairagerareta)
You said:
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You just finished a delicious meal your friend cooked. Write a short message (2-3 sentences) to them expressing your appreciation and mentioning how you '平らげた' (devoured) the food. Make sure to use appropriate politeness for talking to a friend.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ご飯すごく美味しかったよ！あっという間に全部平らげちゃった。本当にありがとうね！ (The meal was so delicious! I devoured it all in no time. Thank you so much!)
Imagine you are writing a diary entry about a challenging but rewarding day. You were so busy that you only had a short break to eat. Describe how quickly you '平らげた' (finished) your lunch due to your schedule. (2-3 sentences)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今日は本当に忙しい一日だった。ランチも休憩中に慌てて平らげたよ。でも充実感があったな。 (It was a really busy day today. I even quickly devoured my lunch during a short break. But it was fulfilling.)
You are describing a scene where a very hungry child is eating. Write a sentence describing how the child '平らげた' (devoured) their meal. Focus on the speed and completeness of their eating.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
お腹ペコペコの子供は、出されたご飯をあっという間に平らげてしまった。 (The very hungry child devoured the meal that was served in no time.)
この文脈で「平らげた」が意味する最も近いものはどれですか？ (In this context, which is the closest meaning of '平らげた'?)
Read this passage:
昨夜、友達と居酒屋に行った。料理はどれも美味しくて、特に唐揚げは絶品だった。みんなでワイワイ話しながら、あっという間にすべての料理を平らげた。楽しい時間だった。(Last night, I went to an izakaya with friends. All the dishes were delicious, especially the fried chicken, which was exquisite. We chatted happily and devoured all the food in no flash. It was a fun time.)
この文脈で「平らげた」が意味する最も近いものはどれですか？ (In this context, which is the closest meaning of '平らげた'?)
「平らげた」は「すべて食べ終えた」という意味で使われています。 (Hirageru is used to mean 'finished eating everything'.)
「平らげた」は「すべて食べ終えた」という意味で使われています。 (Hirageru is used to mean 'finished eating everything'.)
筆者がおにぎりを「平らげた」理由として最も適切なものはどれですか？ (What is the most appropriate reason for the author having 'devoured' the onigiri?)
Read this passage:
朝早くから仕事が始まり、昼食をとる時間もあまりなかった。急いでコンビニで買ったおにぎりを、休憩スペースで一気に平らげた。午後の仕事も頑張ろう。(Work started early in the morning, and there wasn't much time for lunch. I quickly devoured the onigiri I bought at the convenience store in the break space. I'll do my best for the afternoon work too.)
筆者がおにぎりを「平らげた」理由として最も適切なものはどれですか？ (What is the most appropriate reason for the author having 'devoured' the onigiri?)
文中に「昼食をとる時間もあまりなかった」とあるため、時間がなかったことが「平らげた」主な理由です。 (The sentence states 'there wasn't much time for lunch', so lack of time is the main reason for 'devouring'.)
文中に「昼食をとる時間もあまりなかった」とあるため、時間がなかったことが「平らげた」主な理由です。 (The sentence states 'there wasn't much time for lunch', so lack of time is the main reason for 'devouring'.)
この状況で「平らげた」という言葉が表現している感情や状態は何ですか？ (What emotion or state does the word '平らげた' express in this situation?)
Read this passage:
子供の頃、祖母の家で出される手作りのカレーが大好きだった。遊び疲れてお腹を空かせていると、いつも大きな皿に盛られたカレーをあっという間に平らげたものだ。あの味が忘れられない。(When I was a child, I loved the homemade curry served at my grandmother's house. Whenever I was tired from playing and hungry, I would always devour the curry served in a large dish in no time. I can't forget that taste.)
この状況で「平らげた」という言葉が表現している感情や状態は何ですか？ (What emotion or state does the word '平らげた' express in this situation?)
「遊び疲れてお腹を空かせていると」という記述から、空腹感が強く、そのため早く食べ終えたことが分かります。 (From the description 'tired from playing and hungry', it is understood that the hunger was strong, and therefore they finished eating quickly.)
「遊び疲れてお腹を空かせていると」という記述から、空腹感が強く、そのため早く食べ終えたことが分かります。 (From the description 'tired from playing and hungry', it is understood that the hunger was strong, and therefore they finished eating quickly.)
This sentence means 'He devoured all the pizza at the party.' 'パーティーで' (at the party) sets the scene, '彼は' (he) is the subject, 'ピザを' (pizza, object) is what was eaten, '全部' (all) modifies the quantity, and '平らげた' (devoured) is the verb.
This sentence means 'Because I was hungry, I quickly finished the ramen.' 'お腹が空いていたので' (because I was hungry) gives the reason, '私は' (I) is the subject, 'ラーメンを' (ramen, object) is what was eaten, 'あっという間に' (in a flash/quickly) describes how fast, and '平らげた' (finished) is the verb.
This sentence means 'The children quickly finished the snacks.' '子どもたちは' (the children) is the subject, 'おやつを' (snacks, object) is what was eaten, 'すぐに' (immediately/quickly) indicates speed, and '平らげてしまった' (finished completely/devoured) is the verb.
空腹の彼は目の前の料理をあっという間に___。
「平らげる」は「食べ物を残さず全部食べる」という意味です。この文脈では、空腹の彼が料理をすぐに食べ終えた状況を表しています。
子供たちは大好物のお菓子を___。
子供たちが好きなお菓子を全部食べてしまった状況を表すには、「平らげる」が適切です。
パーティーで出されたごちそうを、参加者たちは瞬く間に___。
大勢の参加者がたくさんのごちそうをあっという間に食べ尽くした状況を表現するには、「平らげる」が適切です。
「平らげる」は、食べ物を残さず全て食べるという意味である。
「平らげる」は、文字通り「平らにする」という意味から転じて、食べ物が何もない状態、つまり残さず全部食べ尽くすことを指します。
「平らげる」は、料理の一部だけを食べる場合にも使える。
「平らげる」は、食べ物を全て残さず食べ尽くす場合にのみ使われます。一部だけ食べる場合には使いません。
「平らげる」は、お皿をきれいにするという意味で使われることがある。
食べ物を全て食べ尽くす結果として、お皿がきれいになる、という意味合いで「お皿を平らげる」と表現することがあります。これは、食べ物を残さず食べるという元の意味から派生した使い方です。
The children finished the meal very quickly.
He devoured the large plate of food by himself.
On busy days, I have a simple meal and finish it quickly.
Read this aloud:
残さずに全部平らげてください。
Focus: のこさずに
You said:
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Read this aloud:
こんなにおいしい料理なら、いくらでも平らげられる。
Focus: いくらでも
You said:
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Read this aloud:
昨日の夕食は、彼が作ったパスタを三人で平らげました。
Focus: 三人で
You said:
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Imagine you're at a very fancy, traditional Japanese dinner. Describe the experience, making sure to use 平らげる to describe how you ate one of the dishes. What was the dish, and why did you devour it?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
先日、京都の老舗料亭で懐石料理をいただきました。特に印象的だったのは、旬の魚を使った焼き物です。香ばしく焼かれた魚は、口に入れるととろけるような食感で、あっという間に平らげてしまいました。今まで食べた焼き物の中で一番美味しかったです。
You are writing a short story. A character is extremely hungry after a long journey. Describe the first meal they eat, focusing on their hunger and how quickly they ate. Use 平らげる to illustrate their voracious eating.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
長い旅の末、ようやくたどり着いた宿で出されたのは、温かいおにぎりと味噌汁だった。空腹のあまり、彼は言葉も発せずに目の前の食事を平らげた。一口食べると止まらなくなり、あっという間にすべてを胃に収めてしまった。その日の食事は、何よりも美味しく感じられた。
Write a short email to a friend, describing a recent meal you had that was so good you couldn't stop eating it. Make sure to use 平らげる to convey how quickly you finished the food.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
〇〇さん、お元気ですか？この前、友達と新しいラーメン屋さんに行ったんだけど、そこのラーメンがすごく美味しくて、あっという間に平らげてしまったよ！スープも麺も最高だったから、今度一緒に行こうね！
この男性は、なぜ食事を早く平らげたのでしょうか？
Read this passage:
ある夏の暑い日、彼は一日中畑仕事をして、へとへとになって家に帰ってきました。食卓には、冷たいそばと天ぷらが並べられていました。彼は、一言も発さずに目の前の食事を次々と平らげ、あっという間に空っぽの皿だけが残りました。
この男性は、なぜ食事を早く平らげたのでしょうか？
文章の「へとへとになって家に帰ってきました」と「一言も発さずに目の前の食事を次々と平らげ」という記述から、男性が非常に疲れて空腹であったことがわかります。
文章の「へとへとになって家に帰ってきました」と「一言も発さずに目の前の食事を次々と平らげ」という記述から、男性が非常に疲れて空腹であったことがわかります。
筆者がカレーライスを平らげた時の気持ちとして、最も適切なものはどれですか？
Read this passage:
子供の頃、母が作ってくれるカレーライスが大好きでした。特に、遠足から帰ってきた日には、いつもよりも大盛りにしてくれました。私は、その温かいカレーライスを、まるで競争するかのようにあっという間に平らげました。その時の味は、今でも忘れられません。
筆者がカレーライスを平らげた時の気持ちとして、最も適切なものはどれですか？
「大好きでした」「いつもよりも大盛りにしてくれました」「その時の味は、今でも忘れられません」といった表現から、筆者がカレーライスを食べることに喜びを感じていたことが読み取れます。
「大好きでした」「いつもよりも大盛りにしてくれました」「その時の味は、今でも忘れられません」といった表現から、筆者がカレーライスを食べることに喜びを感じていたことが読み取れます。
このパーティーで、参加者たちが寿司を平らげた状況について、最もよく表している記述はどれですか？
Read this passage:
パーティー会場には、豪華な料理がずらりと並んでいました。特に目を引いたのは、新鮮な海の幸を使った寿司の盛り合わせでした。参加者たちは、談笑しながらも、次から次へと皿の上の寿司を平らげていきました。あっという間に、美しい盛り付けは跡形もなく消えてしまいました。
このパーティーで、参加者たちが寿司を平らげた状況について、最もよく表している記述はどれですか？
「談笑しながらも、次から次へと皿の上の寿司を平らげていきました」という記述から、会話を楽しみつつ、寿司を美味しく食べていたことがわかります。
「談笑しながらも、次から次へと皿の上の寿司を平らげていきました」という記述から、会話を楽しみつつ、寿司を美味しく食べていたことがわかります。
This sentence describes someone quickly finishing all the food served at a party. 「平らげた」is the past tense of 「平らげる」, meaning 'finished eating' or 'devoured'.
This sentence illustrates children eating their snacks as if in a competition. 「平らげてしまった」 emphasizes that they finished everything, often with a sense of completion or slight regret.
This sentence shows someone quickly finishing their entire dinner due to being tired. 「平らげた」 here means 'devoured' quickly.
Choose the most appropriate sentence using 「平らげる」:
「平らげる」は「食べ尽くす」という意味なので、山盛りの料理を短時間で食べ終えた状況が最も適切です。
Which sentence correctly uses 「平らげる」?
「平らげる」は食事を完食する意味で使われます。他の選択肢は動作や物を「片付ける」「こなす」という意味合いで誤りです。
「平らげる」と最も近い意味で使える表現はどれですか？
「平らげる」は「残さず全部食べる」という意味なので、「食べ尽くす」が最も近い表現です。
「彼は残業を平らげた」は、彼が残業をすべて終えたことを意味する。
「平らげる」は通常、食べ物を完食する際に使われる言葉であり、残業を終える意味では使いません。この文脈では「残業を片付けた」などが適切です。
「子供が夕食をきれいに平らげた」という文は、子供が夕食を全て食べたことを表している。
「平らげる」は「食べ物を残さず全部食べる」という意味なので、子供が夕食を完食したことを正しく表しています。
「新しい本を一日で平らげた」は、本を読み終えたという意味で使える。
「平らげる」は食べ物を食べ尽くす意味で使われるため、本を読み終える意味では使いません。この場合は「読み終えた」などが適切です。
This sentence means 'They devoured the party food in no time.' The natural order in Japanese places the subject, then the object with its particle, followed by the adverbial phrase, and finally the verb.
This sentence translates to 'He finished the large serving of ramen in mere minutes.' The typical Japanese sentence structure follows the subject-object-time expression-verb order.
This sentence means 'At the end of a busy day, she quickly finished the dinner that was prepared.' The temporal phrase comes first, then the subject, the object, and finally the adverb and verb.
/ 102 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
平らげる means to finish all the food, leaving nothing behind, and can imply eating quickly or hungrily.
- finish eating
- devour
- eat completely
Example
彼は目の前の料理をあっという間に平らげた。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More food words
少々
B1A little; a few.
〜ほど
B1About; approximately; degree.
~ほど
B1About, approximately; to the extent of ~.
豊富な
B1Abundant, rich in.
ふんだんに
B1Lavishly; abundantly; generously (e.g., using ingredients).
足す
B1To add (e.g., to a sum, to ingredients).
添加物
B1Additive.
〜てから
B1After doing ~.
~てから
B1After doing (an action).
熟成させる
B1To age; to mature (food).
