ベジタリアンです
bejitariandesu
The English phrase "I am vegetarian" is translated into Japanese as ベジタリアンです (bejitariandesu).
This phrase is used to inform others that you do not eat meat.
Which one should you use?
While ベジタリアンです is a common way to express this using a loanword, you can also use the native Japanese term 菜食主義者です to state that you are a vegetarian.
How do you pronounce it?
bejitariandesu
Did you know?
- In Japan, stating ベジタリアンです may not exclude 'dashi', a common fish stock used in almost all savory dishes. You may need to specifically mention you avoid 'fish' to ensure a meal is truly vegetarian.
- Because Buddhist traditions are historically significant in Japan, many traditional dishes are naturally meat-free, known as 精進料理 or 'shojin ryori'.
- Because ベジタリアン is a loanword from English, it is often perceived as a 'Western' lifestyle choice. Using it can signal to a speaker that you are a tourist or an expatriate.
Examples in context
- 私はベジタリアンです。Watashi wa bejitarian desu.I am vegetarian.
- すみません、ベジタリアンです。Sumimasen, bejitarian desu.Excuse me, I am vegetarian.
- 実は、ベジタリアンです。Jitsu wa, bejitarian desu.Actually, I am vegetarian.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 蓮 Ren焼肉を食べに行きませんか？Yakiniku o tabe ni ikimasen ka?Would you like to go eat grilled meat?
- 美咲 Misakiすみません、私はベジタリアンです。Sumimasen, watashi wa bejitarian desu.I'm sorry, I am a vegetarian.
- 蓮 Renそうだったんですか！ごめんなさい。Sō datta n desu ka! Gomen nasai.Oh, I didn't know! I'm sorry.
- 美咲 Misakiいいえ、野菜料理のお店に行きましょう。Iie, yasai ryōri no omise ni ikimashō.No problem, let's go to a vegetable restaurant.
