私は菜食主義者です
watashi wa saishokushugisha desu
In Japanese, "I am a vegetarian" is 私は菜食主義者です (watashi wa saishokushugisha desu).
This phrase is used to state that you do not eat meat or fish. While the formal term for a vegetarian is 菜食主義者, the loanword ベジタリアン is also frequently used to convey the same meaning.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 菜食主義者 is the formal way to say vegetarian. In casual or daily social settings, it is much more common to use the loanword ベジタリアン.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the copula です to link the subject to the noun 菜食主義者.
How do you pronounce it?
watashi wa saishokushugisha desu
Did you know?
- Traditional Japanese cuisine includes 精進料理 (shojin ryori), a Buddhist vegan diet that avoids meat, fish and often pungent ingredients like garlic and onions.
- The suffix 主義者 (shugisha) in 菜食主義者 literally means 'person of a principle' or 'ideologist', framing vegetarianism as a belief system rather than just a preference.
- Due to the prevalence of fish in the national diet, some Japanese people historically did not consider fish to be 'meat' (肉), meaning they could be 'vegetarians' while still eating seafood.
Examples in context
- 私は菜食主義者です。I am a vegetarian.This sentence is useful for stating that you are a vegetarian.Tatoeba #405473 by xtofu80, translation #367935 by rike
- 実は、私は菜食主義者です。Jitsu wa, watashi wa saishoku shugisha desu.Actually, I am a vegetarian.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are looking at a restaurant menu together.
- 結衣 Yuiここ、お肉料理ばかりですね。Koko, oniku ryouri bakari desu ne.This place only has meat dishes, doesn't it?
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。結衣さんは大丈夫？Hontou da. Yui-san wa daijoubu?You're right. Is that okay with you, Yui?
- 結衣 Yuiすみません、私は菜食主義者です。Sumimasen, watashi wa saishoku shugisha desu.Sorry, I am a vegetarian.
- 健太 Kentaそうだったね。他のお店を探そう。Sou datta ne. Hoka no omise o sagasou.That's right. Let's look for another restaurant.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
