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What are some useful questions to ask when talking about food in Japanese visualisation

What are some useful questions to ask when talking about food in Japanese

日本語学習者のための日常生活に欠かせない質問: What are some useful questions to ask when talking about food in Japanese
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When discussing food in Japanese, asking the right questions can help you navigate menus, understand dishes, and appreciate Japanese cuisine better. Here are some useful questions and phrases categorized by context:

Dining Out

  1. “What is this?”

    • これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?)
      Use this when pointing to a dish or item on the menu you’re unfamiliar with 3, 5.

  2. “Do you have an English menu?”

    • 英語のメニューはありますか？ (Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka?)
      This is helpful if you’re not fluent in Japanese and need assistance with the menu 3.

  3. “What do you recommend?”

    • おすすめは何ですか？ (Osusume wa nan desu ka?)
      Ask this to get recommendations from the staff about popular or signature dishes 3, 5.

  4. “Is this spicy/sour/sweet/bitter?”

    • これは辛い/酸っぱい/甘い/苦いですか？ (Kore wa karai/suppai/amai/nigai desu ka?)
      Use this to inquire about the flavor profile of a dish 5.

  5. “Can I have this without [ingredient]?”

    • ～を抜きにしてもらえますか？ (… o nuki ni shite moraemasu ka?)
      For example, if you want a dish without onions: 玉ねぎを抜きにしてもらえますか？ (Tamanegi o nuki ni shite moraemasu ka?) 5.

  6. “Do you offer takeout?”

    • テイクアウトはできますか？ (Teikuauto wa dekimasu ka?)
      Useful for checking if a restaurant provides takeout options.

Learning About Japanese Cuisine

  1. “What are the main ingredients in this dish?”

    • この料理の主な材料は何ですか？ (Kono ryouri no omona zairyou wa nan desu ka?)

  2. “What is Japanese food like?”

    • 日本料理はどんな感じですか？ (Nihon ryouri wa donna kanji desu ka?)
      A general question to learn more about the characteristics of Japanese cuisine 6.

  3. “What is your favorite Japanese dish?”

    • 好きな日本料理は何ですか？ (Suki na Nihon ryouri wa nan desu ka?)

  4. “Are there regional differences in Japanese food?”

    • 日本料理には地域ごとの違いがありますか？ (Nihon ryouri ni wa chiiki goto no chigai ga arimasu ka?)

  5. “How is this dish prepared?”

    • この料理はどうやって作りますか？ (Kono ryouri wa dou yatte tsukurimasu ka?)

Cultural and Dietary Questions

  1. “Does this dish have [ingredient] in it?”

    • ～が入っていますか？ (… ga haitteimasu ka?)
      For example, “Does this have peanuts in it?” ピーナッツが入っていますか？ (Piinattsu ga haitteimasu ka?) 5.

  2. “Is Japanese food healthy?”

    • 日本料理は健康的ですか？ (Nihon ryouri wa kenkouteki desu ka?)

  3. “Are there vegetarian or vegan options?”

    • ベジタリアンやビーガンの選択肢はありますか？ (Bejitarian ya biigan no sentakushi wa arimasu ka?)

  4. “What are traditional Japanese flavors?”

    • 日本の伝統的な味は何ですか？ (Nihon no dentouteki na aji wa nan desu ka?)

By using these questions, you can enhance your dining experience, learn more about Japanese cuisine, and engage in meaningful conversations about food culture in Japan!

References

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