甲殻類アレルギーがあります
kōkakurui areregī ga arimasu
To say "I have a shellfish allergy" in Japanese, you say 甲殻類アレルギーがあります (kōkakurui areregī ga arimasu).
This phrase is used to inform others that eating shellfish causes an allergic reaction. While this phrase is a general statement about your allergy, if you want to specifically ask if a dish contains crustaceans, you should use a question form such as 甲殻類は入っていますか？ Note that the word 貝 refers to shellfish in general.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 甲殻類アレルギーがあります is in the polite register, which makes it suitable for use with restaurant staff or strangers. For a formal setting, you can say 私は甲殻類のアレルギーがあります。 For an informal setting, you can use 私、甲殻類のアレルギーがあるんだ。
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ends with があります, which is the polite way to state the existence of something, such as your allergy.
How do you pronounce it?
kōkakurui areregī ga arimasu
Did you know?
- The word アレルギー is a loanword from the German 'Allergie'. Japanese incorporates many medical terms from German rather than English.
- While 甲殻類 covers crustaceans, a person with a shellfish allergy might still need to specify 貝 (shellfish/mollusks) separately. In Japanese, crustaceans and mollusks are often treated as distinct dietary categories rather than a single 'shellfish' group.
- When expressing a severe allergy, Japanese speakers often add 強い meaning 'strong' to the phrase. Saying 強いアレルギーがあります warns the server that even a trace amount could be dangerous.
Examples in context
- 申し訳ありません、甲殻類アレルギーがあります。Mōshiwake arimasen, kōkakurui arerugī ga arimasu.I am sorry, I have a shellfish allergy.
- 実は、甲殻類アレルギーがあります。Jitsu wa, kōkakurui arerugī ga arimasu.Actually, I have a shellfish allergy.
Example conversation
At a restaurant, a waiter asks if the customers can eat anything.
- 蓮 Ren何か食べられないものはありますか？Nanika taberarenai mono wa arimasu ka?Is there anything you cannot eat?
- 陽葵 Himari甲殻類アレルギーがあります。Kōkakurui arerugī ga arimasu.I have a shellfish allergy.
- 蓮 Ren承知いたしました。確認してきます。Shōchi itashimashita. Kakunin shite kimasu.Understood. I will go check.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
