Nabe vs. Nabemono vs. Oden: What’s the Difference?

Here in Japan, winter is 鍋の季節 or the season of Nabe (鍋).

At this time of the year, people enjoy various varieties of Nabemono (鍋物: literally, Nabe Thing) both at home and in restaurants, among which Oden (おでん) is especially popular.

Nabe (鍋) or Nabemono (鍋物)

Original Meaning of Nabe

For the unfamiliar, the Japanese word 鍋 (Nabe) can refer to two different things, and one, or the original meaning, usually refers to a cooking pot or saucepan. 

Nabemono or Nabe Ryori (鍋料理: literally, Nabe Dish) is another meaning of Nabe, and both refer to a hot pot dish.

So you can paraphrase 鍋の季節 as 鍋物の季節 (the season of Nabemono) or 鍋料理の季節 (the season of Nabe Ryori).

vs. Oden, Sukiyaki, Shabu Shabu

Oden A Type of Nabe (Nabemono or Nabe Ryori)

Nabemono, or the Japanese hot pot, comes in numerous varieties, which include Oden, Sukiyaki (すき焼き), and Shabu Shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ).

These dishes are popular types of Nabemono or Nabe Ryori, widely enjoyed in my country.

(Reference Pages: Goo Japanese Dictionary , 鍋物 )

Tomo

Hi, I'm Tomo, a Japanese blogger living in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. For the purpose of enriching your life, I would like to introduce things about Japan on this blog, especially unique Japanese products, cooking recipes, cultures, and facts and trivia.

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