Last time, we learned about confessing, and even briefly about the culture of gifting chocolates in Japan on Valentine’s Day. We will talk about the different kinds of “chocolate”, Chokore-to (チョコレート) in Japanese, given during Valentine’s Day.

In Japanese culture, women give chocolates to the person that they are interested in on Valentine’s Day to express their feelings. In addition, they also give out chocolates to other males in their life such as friends, classmates, colleagues, and superiors.

A chocolate given to the woman’s person of interest is called Honmei Chocolate, or Honmei Choko (本命チョコ) for short. It is roughly translated as “genuine chocolate”.

Chocolate given to others as a formality is referred to as Giri Chocolate meaning “obligatory chocolate”. It is abbreviated as Giri Choko (義理チョコ).

One month after Valentine’s Day, men return the favor by gifting something to the women who gave them chocolate on White Day, March 14th.

So, if you ever receive chocolates from a Japanese woman, hold your horses and don’t get too excited just yet! It could very well just be obligatory chocolate. Well, it doesn’t hurt to ask and find out!

Let’s remember the following useful sentences before going to Japan!

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●Keiko-san kara choko moratta kedo, honmeika douka wakarimsen.
(けいこさんからチョコもらったけど、本命かどうかわかりません。)
> I received chocolate from Keiko, but I’m not sure if it’s just obligatory.

●Kotoshi chokore-to nanko moraimashitaka?
(今年チョコレート何個もらいましたか？)
> How many chocolates did you receive this year?

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Now all that’s left is to go out there and try using them in Japan!


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Kokuhaku (告白) Fun! Japan Words vol.131