Food2 min read
Useful Japanese phrases for vegetarian and Jain travellers (with a printable card)
Five phrases cover most meals. A card in Japanese covers the rest. Print it, or save it on your phone.
By the Troose team ·
Five phrases and one written card will get you through almost every meal in Japan. Staff are usually happy to help when the request is clear and in Japanese. The most important question is not “is it vegetarian?” but “does it contain fish stock?”
Saying what you eat
私はベジタリアンです。
Watashi wa bejitarian desu.
I am vegetarian.
私はジャイナ教徒です。
Watashi wa Jaina-kyouto desu.
I am Jain.
肉と魚と卵は食べられません。
Niku to sakana to tamago wa taberaremasen.
I can't eat meat, fish or egg.
玉ねぎとにんにくは食べられません。
Tamanegi to ninniku wa taberaremasen.
I can't eat onion or garlic.
Asking about a dish
すみません。
Sumimasen.
Excuse me. (To get attention, politely.)
魚のだしは入っていますか？
Sakana no dashi wa haitte imasu ka?
Does it contain fish stock?
肉のエキスは入っていますか？
Niku no ekisu wa haitte imasu ka?
Does it contain meat extract?
これには何が入っていますか？
Kore ni wa nani ga haitte imasu ka?
What's in this?
Understanding the answer
| You hear | Reading | Means |
|---|---|---|
| 入っています | haitte imasu | Yes, it contains it |
| 入っていません | haitte imasen | No, it doesn't |
| 大丈夫です | daijoubu desu | Probably fine (vague: ask 入っていませんか？ to be sure) |
| わかりません | wakarimasen | I don't know (so skip it) |
| できません | dekimasen | We can't do that |
Saying thank you
ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you.
よろしくお願いします。
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Thank you for your help. (Ends any request politely.)
The cards
Print a card and hand it over, or save it as a photo and show your phone. Pick the one that matches you.
私はベジタリアンです。
肉、魚介類（魚・えび・いか・貝など）、卵は食べられません。
魚のだし（かつお節・煮干しなど）や肉のエキスも使わないでください。
牛乳、チーズ、バターは大丈夫です。
昆布だしなら大丈夫です。
よろしくお願いします。
Romaji
Watashi wa bejitarian desu.
Niku, gyokairui (sakana, ebi, ika, kai nado), tamago wa taberaremasen.
Sakana no dashi (katsuobushi, niboshi nado) ya niku no ekisu mo tsukawanaide kudasai.
Gyuunyuu, chiizu, bataa wa daijoubu desu.
Kombu dashi nara daijoubu desu.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
In English, for you
I am vegetarian. I can't eat meat, seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish and so on) or egg. Please don't use fish stock (bonito, dried sardine and so on) or meat extract. Milk, cheese and butter are fine. Kelp stock is fine. Thank you.
troosetours.com
Or take a screenshot and keep it in your photos.
私はジャイナ教徒です。
宗教上の理由で、次のものは少量でも食べられません。
肉、魚介類（魚・えび・いか・貝など）、卵は食べられません。
玉ねぎ、にんにく、ねぎ、にら、しょうが、根菜・芋類（じゃがいも、さつまいも、さといも、にんじん、大根、ごぼう、れんこんなど）、きのこは食べられません。
魚のだし（かつお節・煮干しなど）や肉のエキスも使わないでください。
みりん、酒も使わないでください。
昆布だしなら大丈夫です（しいたけだしは使えません）。
よろしくお願いします。
Romaji
Watashi wa Jaina-kyouto desu.
Shuukyoujou no riyuu de, tsugi no mono wa shouryou demo taberaremasen.
Niku, gyokairui (sakana, ebi, ika, kai nado), tamago wa taberaremasen.
Tamanegi, ninniku, negi, nira, shouga, konsai/imorui (jagaimo, satsumaimo, satoimo, ninjin, daikon, gobou, renkon nado), kinoko wa taberaremasen.
Sakana no dashi (katsuobushi, niboshi nado) ya niku no ekisu mo tsukawanaide kudasai.
Mirin, sake mo tsukawanaide kudasai.
Kombu dashi nara daijoubu desu (shiitake dashi wa tsukaemasen).
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
In English, for you
I am Jain. For religious reasons I can't eat the following, even in small amounts. I can't eat meat, seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish and so on) or egg. I can't eat onion, garlic, green onion, chives, ginger, root vegetables or potatoes (potato, sweet potato, taro, carrot, daikon, burdock, lotus root and similar) or mushroom. Please don't use fish stock (bonito, dried sardine and so on) or meat extract either. Please don't use mirin or sake. Kelp stock is fine (not shiitake stock). Thank you.
troosetours.com
Or take a screenshot and keep it in your photos.
Quick questions
How do you say vegetarian in Japanese?
Bejitarian (ベジタリアン). “Watashi wa bejitarian desu” means “I am vegetarian”. Add “tamago mo taberaremasen” if you don't eat egg.
How do you say no onion and garlic in Japanese?
“Tamanegi to ninniku wa taberaremasen” (玉ねぎとにんにくは食べられません): I can't eat onion or garlic.
Do restaurants in Japan accept dietary cards?
Most staff are glad to read one. A clear card in Japanese is easier for them than a conversation, especially in a busy kitchen.
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