Gastronomic adventures in the Land of the Rising Sun

The Language

Useful Phrases and Vocab • PronunciationReading and Writing


I am a vegetarian.

Watashi wa bejitarian desu, or simply Bejitarian desu.
(Wah-tah-shee wah) beh-jee-ta-ree-ahn dess.

I do not eat any meat or fish at all.
Niku mo sakana mo zenzen tabemasen.
Nee-koo moe sah-kah-nah moe zen-zen tah-beh-mah-sen.

I cannot eat meat or fish.
Niku mo sakana mo taberaremasen.
Nee-koo moe sah-kah-nah moe tah-beh-rah-reh-mah-sen.

I eat fish, but not meat.
Sakana ga tabemasu ga, niku ga tabemasen.
Sah-kah-nah gah tah-beh-mahss gah, nee-koo gah tah-beh-mah-sen.

I do not eat eggs.
Tamago ga tabemasen.
Tah-mah-go gah tah-beh-mah-sen.

Does this have _____ in it?

_____ ga haitteimasu ka? (_____ gah high-tay-ee-mahss kah?)

butter: bataa (bah-tah)
cheese
: chiizu (chee-zoo)
egg(s)
: tamago (tah-mah-go)
fish: sakana (sah-kah-nah)
milk
: gyuunyuu (gyoo-nyoo)

meat: niku (nee-koo)

  • bacon: beikon (bay-cone)
  • beef: gyuuniku (gyoo-nee-koo)
  • chicken: toriniku (toe-ree-nee-koo) or chikin (chee-keen)
  • ham: hamu (hah-moo)
  • lamb: hitsuju-niku (heat-sue-joo nee-koo) or ramu (rah-moo)
  • mutton: maton (mah-tone) or muton (moo-tone)
  • pork: buta-niku (boo-tah-nee-koo) or ku (poh-koo)

fruit: furuutsu (foo-root-soo)
vegetable(s): yasai (yah-sigh) or bejitaburu (beh-jee-tah-boo-roo)

  • apple: ringo (reen-goh)
  • banana: banana (bah-nah-nah)
  • blueberry: buruuberii (boo-roo-beh-ree)
  • carrots: ninjin (neen-jeen)
  • corn: kōn (kohn)
  • eggplant: nasu (nah-soo)
  • grape: budō (boo-doh)
  • lemon: remon (reh-mown)
  • mandarin orange: mikan (mee-kahn)
  • melon: meron (meh-rown)
  • mushroom: kinoko (kee-noh-koh) or masshuruumu (mah-shoo-roo-moo)
  • onion (green/scallions): negi (neh-ghee)
  • onion (white): onion (oh-nee-own)
  • orange: orenji (oh-ren-jee)
  • potato: jagai (jah-guy) or poteto (poh-teh-toe)
  • strawberry: ichigo (ee-chee-goh)
  • tomato: tomato (toh-mah-toh
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