パン粉（パンこ、panko）
- bread crumbs

パン粉 (panko) refers to breadcrumbs. It is a type of breadcrumb commonly used in Japanese cuisine and is known for its light, airy texture and ability to create a crispy coating. パン粉 is made from bread that has been baked without crusts, then dried and ground into flakes. This process gives パン粉 its characteristic texture, which absorbs less oil than other breadcrumbs and results in a lighter, crispier final product.

⚫︎とんかつは、パン粉で揚げて作ります。 Translation: Tonkatsu is made by deep-frying it with breadcrumbs. ⚫︎エビフライにパン粉をまぶしました。 Translation: I coated the shrimp with breadcrumbs.

You use パン粉 when cooking dishes that require a crispy coating or texture, particularly for deep-fried foods. It's an essential ingredient for dishes like tonkatsu (pork cutlet), ebi furai (fried shrimp), and korokke (croquettes). It is also used as a binder in meatballs and other meat dishes. You would typically use パン粉 to describe the breadcrumbs themselves or the act of using them in cooking.

パン粉 is written in katakana: パン粉. There is no kanji for パン粉. The word is always written in katakana. There are no variations in okurigana. The word itself is not conjugated. The variations such as パン粉をまぶす (to coat with breadcrumbs) are often used.

There are no direct synonyms in Japanese, but you might use the more general term パン (pan - bread) when referring to bread generally. In English, similar words would be "breadcrumbs" or "panko breadcrumbs."

There are no direct antonyms for パン粉, as it is a specific type of ingredient.

パン粉は、揚げ物の衣に欠かせない材料です。 ・Translation: Panko is an indispensable ingredient for the coating of fried foods. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the importance of パン粉 in creating the crispy coating for deep-fried dishes.

このコロッケは、パン粉がサクサクしていて美味しいです。 ・Translation: This croquette is delicious because the panko is crispy. ・Explanation: This sentence praises the texture of the dish, emphasizing how パン粉 contributes to its pleasant crispiness.

The word パン粉 is a compound word. "パン" (pan) is derived from the Portuguese word for "bread". The second part, "粉" (ko), means "powder" or "flour," specifically in this context referring to the granular form of breadcrumbs.