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How to Say ‘I can't eat pork.’ in Japanese

私は豚肉が食べられません。

watashi wa butaniku ga tabe rare mase n

[wah-tah-shee wah boo-TAH-nee-koo ga tah-beh rah-REH mah-seh n]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Pork can hide in broths, sauces and gyoza, so mentioning it at booking time is wise. Saying "can't eat" rather than "don't like" makes clear it's a firm restriction.

Phrase Breakdown

私は

watashi wa

as for me

私 (watashi) means 'I.' は is pronounced 'wa.'

Example

私は学生です。

I am a student.

Words in this phrase

私

watashi

[wah-tah-shee]

I; me

A common first-person pronoun. Neutral/polite; often used when talking clearly about feelings or intentions in a relationship.

Example

私、本当は不安だった。

I was actually feeling anxious.

は

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

豚肉が

butaniku ga

pork (object of 'can't eat')

豚肉 (butaniku) means 'pork.' が is used with 'can/can't' verbs.

Example

豚肉が好きです。

I like pork.

Words in this phrase

豚肉

butaniku

[boo-TAH-nee-koo]

pork

Noun combining 豚 (pig) and 肉 (meat); common to ask about for dietary reasons.

Example

豚肉が好きです。

I like pork.

が

[ga]

subject marker

A particle marking the subject of the sentence.

Example

興味がある分野を教えてください。

Please tell me the field you are interested in.

食べられません。

tabe rare mase n

can't eat

Say the five syllables 'ra-re-ma-sen' smoothly at the end.

Example

生魚が食べられません。

I can't eat raw fish.

Words in this phrase

食べ

tabe

[tah-beh]

eat (stem of 食べる)

Verb stem of 食べる (to eat). Used before て-form: 食べて.

Example

今度食べてみたいです。まずは少し食べてみます。

I want to try it next time. For now, I’ll try a little.

られ

rare

[rah-REH]

can (potential form)

Verb suffix expressing ability; with 食べ it means 'can eat'.

Example

納豆は食べられますか。

Can you eat natto?

ませ

mase

[mah-seh]

polite negative (part of ません)

「ませ」 is part of 「ません」, the polite negative form.

Example

はいていません。

I haven’t vomited.

ん

[n]

not (negative)

The final sound of the polite negative ending ません.

Example

お酒は飲めません。

I can't drink alcohol.

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