魚なし
sakana nashi
The Japanese phrase for "no fish" is 魚なし (sakana nashi).
This phrase is used to indicate that a dish should be prepared without any fish. If you are in a restaurant and want to make a polite request to exclude fish from your meal, you should add でお願いします to the end, forming 魚なしでお願いします (Without fish, please).
How do you pronounce it?
sakana nashi
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might use 魚なし to mean "there is no fish available", but in a restaurant, it is more naturally understood as a request to exclude fish from a meal.
Did you know?
- Because many Japanese seasonings like 'dashi' use fish stock, simply saying 魚なし might not be enough to prevent fish flavors from entering your dish.
- In Japanese, the word 魚 (sakana) is derived from words meaning 'between' and 'goods', originally referring to the items traded between the sea and the land.
- In some regions, the term 魚 (sakana) was historically used to refer to any 'side dish' served with sake, regardless of whether it was actually fish.
Examples in context
- 魚を食べません。I don't eat fish.
- 魚は苦手です。I'm not good with fish.
- 私は魚が苦手です。I am not good with fish.
- 魚なしのメニューはありますか？sakana nashi no menyū wa arimasu ka?Is there a menu with no fish?
- 魚なしでお願いします。sakana nashi de onegaishimasu.No fish, please.
- この料理は魚なしで作れますか？kono ryōri wa sakana nashi de tsukuremasu ka?Can this dish be made without fish?
Example conversation
Youta and Yui are ordering food at a restaurant.
- 陽太 Yota魚なしの料理が食べたいです。sakana nashi no ryōri ga tabetai desu.I want to eat a dish with no fish.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、野菜のパスタはどうですか？jaa, yasai no pasuta wa dō desu ka?Then, how about the vegetable pasta?
- 陽太 Yotaいいですね。それでお願いします。ii desu ne. sore de onegaishimasu.That sounds good. I'll have that, please.
- 結衣 Yui分かりました。注文しておきますね。wakarimashita. chūmon shite okimasu ne.Understood. I will order it.
