非常食（ひじょうしょく、hijoushoku）
- emergency food

The Japanese word 非常食 (ひじょうしょく) translates to "emergency food" or "survival food" in English. It refers to food items specifically prepared and stored for use during emergencies, disasters, or situations where regular food supplies are unavailable. 非常食 is designed to be non-perishable, easy to store, and often has a long shelf life. The primary purpose of 非常食 is to provide sustenance and energy during critical periods.

⚫︎非常食を準備しておきましょう。 Translation: Let's prepare emergency food. ⚫︎地震の備えとして、非常食を備蓄しています。 Translation: I'm stocking up on emergency food in preparation for an earthquake. ⚫︎この非常食は５年間保存できます。 Translation: This emergency food can be stored for five years.

You use 非常食 when talking about food meant for emergencies. This can include natural disasters like earthquakes or typhoons, power outages, or any situation where normal food supplies are disrupted. It's important to use it when discussing preparation for such situations, the type of food stored for survival, or the availability of such food.

非常食 is typically written using the kanji 非常食 or, less commonly, in hiragana ひじょうしょく. The kanji representation is most common. There are no significant variations in okurigana.

There are no direct synonyms for 非常食 that are as commonly used. However, related terms include: ⚫︎ 保存食 (ほぞんしょく) - "preserved food" ⚫︎ 防災食 (ぼうさいしょく) - "disaster prevention food" (which often includes 非常食)

The direct antonyms of 非常食 are not well-defined, as it is a specific category. However, in terms of context, words associated with everyday food or normal food supplies could be considered opposite. Such as: ⚫︎ 普段の食事 (ふだんのしょくじ) - "regular meals" ⚫︎ 食料品 (しょくりょうひん) - "foodstuffs"

避難セットの中に、非常食と水は必ず入れておきましょう。 ・Translation: Make sure to include emergency food and water in your evacuation kit. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes the importance of including emergency food when preparing for a disaster.

ローリングストックで、非常食を常に新しい状態に保つことが大切です。 ・Translation: It's important to keep your emergency food supply fresh by using a "rolling stock" method. ・Explanation: This sentence introduces the concept of "rolling stock," which means rotating your 非常食 so you are always consuming and replacing it to maintain freshness.

The word 非常食 is a compound word. 非常 (ひじょう) means "emergency" or "unusual," and 食 (しょく) means "food." Therefore, the literal meaning is "emergency food."