Dietary & Allergies

1. 私はベジタリアンです。

   Watashi wa bejitarian desu.

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   The most common way to declare vegetarianism in Japanese

   Grammar Note

   "Saishoku shugisha" is the native term but "vegetarian" is more common

2. 私はヴィーガンで、動物性食品は一切食べません。

   Watashi wa viigan de, doubutsusei shokuhin wa issai tabemasen.

   I'm vegan and don't eat any animal products.

   Usage

   Use when avoiding all animal-derived foods including dairy/eggs/honey

   Grammar Note

   "Issai" intensifies negation: "not at all"

3. ナッツアレルギーがあります。

   Nattsu arerugii ga arimasu.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Tree-nut allergy; peanut is biologically separate

   Grammar Note

   "~ ga arimasu" is the standard pattern for declaring a condition

4. グルテンフリーのメニューはありますか？

   Guruten furii no menyuu wa arimasu ka?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   Standard celiac/gluten-intolerance question

   Grammar Note

   "~ wa arimasu ka" politely asks if something is available

5. ハラールを守っていて、豚肉は食べません。

   Haraaru wo mamotte ite, butaniku wa tabemasen.

   I keep halal and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Explains Muslim dietary observance

   Grammar Note

   "~te ite" connects two related facts

6. 乳糖不耐症です。

   Nyuutou funaishou desu.

   I am lactose intolerant.

   Usage

   Declares inability to digest dairy

   Grammar Note

   Distinct from a dairy allergy; an enzyme deficiency

7. 甲殻類アレルギーがあります。

   Koukakurui arerugii ga arimasu.

   I have a shellfish allergy.

   Usage

   Shellfish allergy; often severe, emphasize clearly

   Grammar Note

   "Kairui" (mollusks) is a separate category; mention both if applicable

8. この料理にはどんな材料が入っていますか？

   Kono ryouri ni wa donna zairyou ga haitte imasu ka?

   What ingredients are in this dish?

   Usage

   Standard ingredient-check question

   Grammar Note

   "~ ga haitte imasu ka" asks what's contained inside

9. 玉ねぎを抜いて作っていただけますか？

   Tamanegi wo nuite tsukutte itadakemasu ka?

   Could you make it without onions?

   Usage

   Polite request to omit an ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "~te itadakemasu ka" is the most polite request form

10. 卵アレルギーがあります。

    Tamago arerugii ga arimasu.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Important since eggs are hidden in many foods

    Grammar Note

    "卵" is generic; "玉子" sometimes used in food names

11. アレルゲン表示はありますか？

    Arerugen hyouji wa arimasu ka?

    Do you have allergen labeling?

    Usage

    Japan mandates labeling of 8 specified allergens

    Grammar Note

    Japan's 8 mandatory allergens: egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, walnut

12. このアレルギーは命に関わります。十分に注意してください。

    Kono arerugii wa inochi ni kakawarimasu. Juubun ni chuui shite kudasai.

    This allergy is life-threatening. Please be very careful.

    Usage

    Communicates anaphylaxis risk

    Grammar Note

    "Inochi ni kakawaru" is a standard expression for severity

13. これにはピーナッツオイルが入っていますか？

    Kore ni wa piinattsu oiru ga haitte imasu ka?

    Does this contain peanut oil?

    Usage

    Important at Asian restaurants

    Grammar Note

    "Rakkasei-yu" is the native term

14. アレルゲンフリーの料理には別の調理器具を使っていますか？

    Arerugen furii no ryouri ni wa betsu no chouri kigu wo tsukatte imasu ka?

    Do you use separate utensils for allergen-free dishes?

    Usage

    Checks cross-contamination control

    Grammar Note

    "Kontami" (contamination) is industry shorthand

15. 食事制限に対応していただきありがとうございます。

    Shokuji seigen ni taiou shite itadaki arigatou gozaimasu.

    Thank you for accommodating my dietary restrictions.

    Usage

    Polite gratitude for special accommodation

    Grammar Note

    "~te itadaki" is the most humble polite form

16. 宗教上の理由で牛肉は食べられません。

    Shuukyoujou no riyuu de gyuuniku wa taberaremasen.

    For religious reasons I can't eat beef.

    Usage

    Explains religious avoidance of beef

    Grammar Note

    "Taberaremasen" uses potential form: "cannot eat"

17. 豚肉

    Butaniku

    Pork

    Usage

    Point at it to ask whether a dish contains pork, or to say you cannot eat it

18. 牛肉

    Gyuuniku

    Beef

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains beef

19. 鶏肉

    Toriniku

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains chicken

20. 魚

    Sakana

    Fish

    Usage

    Checks for fish; note that fish stock (dashi) is also common in Japanese cooking

21. 卵

    Tamago

    Egg

    Usage

    For an egg allergy; eggs also hide in tempura batter and mayonnaise

22. 乳製品

    Nyuuseihin

    Dairy products

    Usage

    Covers milk, butter, and cheese in one question

23. ピーナッツ

    Piinattsu

    Peanut

    Usage

    Critical for anaphylaxis — always point at this to confirm

24. ナッツ類

    Nattsurui

    Tree nuts

    Usage

    Covers almonds, walnuts, and other tree nuts apart from peanuts

25. 甲殻類

    Koukakurui

    Shellfish (crustaceans)

    Usage

    Covers shrimp and crab; the same word appears on Japanese allergen labels

26. 小麦

    Komugi

    Wheat

    Usage

    For avoiding gluten; note that soy sauce also contains wheat

27. 大豆

    Daizu

    Soy

    Usage

    The base of soy sauce, miso, and tofu — hard to avoid in Japanese food, so always check

28. ごま

    Goma

    Sesame

    Usage

    Checks for sesame oil or sprinkled seeds — very common in Japanese cooking

29. アルコール

    Arukooru

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Covers cooking sake and mirin too; use it when avoiding alcohol for religious reasons

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