Food Vocabulary Is Immediately Useful
Japan has one of the world’s most celebrated food cultures, and food vocabulary comes up constantly — at restaurants, supermarkets, cooking shows, and social conversations. These words are high-priority vocabulary for any learner.
Traditional Japanese Foods
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ごはん | gohan | cooked rice / meal |
| みそしる | misoshiru | miso soup |
| すし | sushi | sushi |
| さしみ | sashimi | sashimi (raw fish slices) |
| ラーメン | raamen | ramen noodle soup |
| うどん | udon | thick wheat noodles |
| そば | soba | buckwheat noodles |
| てんぷら | tenpura | tempura (battered fried food) |
| やきとり | yakitori | grilled chicken skewers |
| おにぎり | onigiri | rice ball |
| たこやき | takoyaki | octopus balls (Osaka speciality) |
| もち | mochi | rice cake |
Common Ingredients
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| さかな | sakana | fish |
| にく | niku | meat |
| やさい | yasai | vegetable |
| たまご | tamago | egg |
| とうふ | toufu | tofu |
| しょうゆ | shouyu | soy sauce |
| みりん | mirin | sweet cooking sake |
Describing Taste
| Japanese | Romaji | Taste |
|---|---|---|
| おいしい | oishii | delicious |
| まずい | mazui | awful tasting (use carefully!) |
| あまい | amai | sweet |
| からい | karai | spicy / salty |
| すっぱい | suppai | sour |
| にがい | nigai | bitter |
| しおからい | shiokarai | salty |
| あぶらっこい | aburakkoi | greasy / oily |
Useful Food Phrases
- 「これはなんですか。」— What is this?
- 「アレルギーがあります。」— I have an allergy.
- 「〜なしでおねがいします。」— Without ~, please.
- 「からいですか。」— Is it spicy?
Yuka & Rei Talk About Food
See how these words come alive in a real exchange between Yuka and Rei. Pay attention to how they explain — and occasionally correct — each other. That back-and-forth is exactly how language learning works.
YukaRei, I went to a supermarket in Japan and couldn’t read any of the labels! How do I start learning food vocabulary?
ReiStart with the sections: やさい (vegetables), くだもの (fruit), にく (meat), さかな (fish), のみもの (drinks). Once you can navigate sections, you can ask staff for help more easily.
YukaWhat about common dishes I’ll see on menus? I’m always guessing.
ReiThe essentials: ごはん (rice / meal), みそしる (miso soup), すし (sushi), てんぷら (tempura), うどん (udon noodles). Most restaurant menus also have photos — point and say これをください!
YukaI have a dairy allergy. How do I tell restaurant staff that?
ReiSay: にゅうせいひんアレルギーがあります。にゅうせいひんがはいっていますか？ — ‘I have a dairy allergy. Does this contain dairy products?’ Staff take allergies very seriously — don’t hesitate to ask.
5 Practice Sentences — Read These Aloud
Speak each sentence at least three times. Hearing your own voice say these words is the fastest route to natural recall.
- このりょうりにはなにがはいっていますか？
What ingredients are in this dish? - からいものがにがてなので、からくないものをおねがいします。
I’m not good with spicy food, so please give me something not spicy. - すしとてんぷらとどちらがすきですか？
Which do you prefer, sushi or tempura? - きのう、はじめておこのみやきをたべました。とてもおいしかった！
Yesterday I ate okonomiyaki for the first time. It was so delicious! - やさいをもっとたべるようにしています。
I’ve been trying to eat more vegetables.
Your Turn! Leave Your Sentence in the Comments
The best way to memorise vocabulary is to produce it yourself. Pick 2–3 words from this article and write your own sentences — about your daily life, your hometown, your work, anything.
Leave your sentences in the comments below. Other learners will read them, and you might inspire someone else’s learning journey. Log in to keep your comment history — our most active contributors appear in the Top Commenters ranking in the sidebar!
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