Japanese - Food Preferences

___料理が好きです。

___ ryōri ga suki desu.

I like ___ food.

Meaning: I like ___ food.

When to use: Put a country or type of cuisine before 料理 (ryōri), or use the name of a cuisine: e.g., イタリア料理が好きです。 Use this to state what kinds of food you enjoy politely.

Tip: Don't use を instead of が after the cuisine name; say Xが好きです。

___はあまり好きじゃないです。

___ wa amari suki ja nai desu.

I don't really like ___.

Meaning: I don't really like ___.

When to use: Put a food or drink before は. This is softer and more polite than 嫌いです, and is common in everyday speech when you want to be gentle.

Tip: Avoid saying 嫌いです right away — あまり好きじゃないです sounds softer and more natural.

___が一番好きです。

___ ga ichiban suki desu.

___ is my favorite.

Meaning: ___ is my favorite.

When to use: Use が after the item and add 一番好きです to say it's your favorite. Works for specific dishes (寿司が一番好きです) or ingredients.

好きな食べ物は何ですか。

Sukina tabemono wa nan desu ka.

What's your favorite food?

Meaning: What's your favorite food?

When to use: Use this polite question to ask someone about their favorite food. A casual version drops です and the question particle.

___は食べられません。

___ wa taberaremasen.

I can't eat ___.

Meaning: I can't eat ___.

When to use: Put a food before は. Use this to explain an allergy, religious restriction, or other reason you cannot eat something.

ベジタリアンです。

Bejitarian desu.

I'm vegetarian.

Meaning: I'm vegetarian.

When to use: State your dietary choice politely. 私は can be added but is often omitted in conversation.

___は入っていますか。

___ wa haitte imasu ka.

Does it have ___ in it?

Meaning: Does it have ___ in it?

When to use: Put an ingredient before は to ask whether a dish contains a specific ingredient (useful for allergies and preferences).

何でも大丈夫です。

Nan demo daijōbu desu.

Anything is fine.

Meaning: Anything is fine.

When to use: Use this when someone asks what you'd like to eat or where to go and you have no strong preference.

私には___すぎます。

Watashi ni wa ___ sugimasu.

It's too ___ for me.

Meaning: It's too ___ for me.

When to use: Put an adjective (stem) before すぎます, for example 辛すぎます (too spicy) or 甘すぎます (too sweet). Use 私には to make it personal.

Tip: Make sure to use the adjective before すぎます (e.g., 辛 + すぎます → 辛すぎます), not a full clause.

___は食べません。

___ wa tabemasen.

I don't eat ___.

Meaning: I don't eat ___.

When to use: Put the food you avoid before は. Use this to state regular exclusions (e.g., for health or belief).

___はなるべく食べません。

___ wa narubeku tabemasen.

I try to avoid ___.

Meaning: I try to avoid ___.

When to use: Put the food before は. なるべく means 'as much as possible' — a polite way to say you avoid something but not absolutely never.

ふだん、___を___に食べます。

Fudan, ___ o ___ ni tabemasu.

I usually eat ___ for ___.

Meaning: I usually eat ___ for ___.

When to use: First blank is the food (use を after it), second blank is the meal like 朝ごはん or 昼ごはん (use に after it).

ふだん、___に何を食べますか。

Fudan, ___ ni nani o tabemasu ka.

What do you usually eat for ___?

Meaning: What do you usually eat for ___?

When to use: Put a meal in the blank (朝ごはん、昼ごはん、夜ごはん) and use に after it to ask about someone's usual meal.