How to Say "Take Away" in Japanese

持ち帰り

mochikaeri[mo̞t͡ɕika̠e̞ɾʲi]

To say "take away" in Japanese, use 持ち帰り (mochikaeri).

Meaning: to remove something and put it in a different place (verb)

How does it change in a sentence?

To use the phrase as a verb in a sentence to state your intention, you use the form 持ち帰ります.

mochikaeri

When deciding between eating at a restaurant or taking food to go, the opposite of 持ち帰り is often expressed as 店内で, meaning 'inside the shop'.

In some contexts, 持ち帰り can be used as slang to describe taking a date home after an evening out.
If you use 持ち帰り in a business context, it can also mean to 'take a matter home to consider', meaning to think about a problem further before deciding.
The word 帰り (kaeri) used in this phrase is the same word used to describe the 'way back' or 'return trip' in a journey.

「これを1つと、これを2つ下さい」「お持ち帰りですか？」「いえ、店内で」
"One of this and two of this, please." "Take-away?" "No, having here."
This example shows how to use 持ち帰り when ordering items and deciding whether to eat in or take out.
Tatoeba #3103616 by tommy_san, translation #7856314 by basilhan
「お召し上がりですか？お持ち帰りですか？」「ここで食べます」
"Do you want it to eat here, or take away?" "Eat here please."
This example demonstrates the common question of whether a customer wants to eat in the shop or take their food away using 持ち帰り.
Tatoeba #399255 by blay_paul, translation #399256 by blay_paul
今日はピザを持って帰ろう。
Let's take away pizza today.
サンドイッチをテイクアウトできますか？
Can I get a sandwich to take away?
スーパーで買った食品を持ち帰りたいです。
I want to take away the groceries I bought at the supermarket.
店内での飲食も可能ですが、持ち帰りもできますよ。
While dining-in is possible, takeout is also available.
お土産を持って帰ってください。
Please take the souvenir with you when you leave.

At a cafe, a customer decides whether to eat inside or take the food away.

大翔 Hiroto

ご注文は、こちらでお召し上がりですか？お持ち帰りですか？
Gochūmon wa, kochira de omeshiagari desu ka? Omochikaeri desu ka?
Would you like to eat here, or is it for take away?
結衣 Yui

持ち帰りにします。
Mochikaeri ni shimasu.
I will take it away.
大翔 Hiroto

かしこまりました。お持ち帰り用の袋をご用意しますね。
Kashikomarimashita. Omochikaeri-yō no fukuro o goyōi shimasu ne.
Certainly. I will prepare a bag for your take away.
結衣 Yui

ありがとうございます。
Arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you.

Sources

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