🚫🍽️

How to Say ‘That's not your food’ in Japanese

それはあなたのごはんじゃないよ

sore wa anata no gohan ja nai yo

[soh-reh wah ah-nah-tah no goh-hahn ja nai yoh]

💬 Usage Tip: じゃない is the casual "is not": Xじゃない means "it's not X". Adding よ at the end gives it a gentle "you know" tone, as if you're informing the dog.

Phrase Breakdown

それは

sore wa

That (as for that)

それ means 'that' and は marks the topic. The particle は is written 'ha' but pronounced 'wa'. Say it smoothly as 'sore-wa'.

Example

それはペンです。

That is a pen.

Words in this phrase

それ

sore

[soh-reh]

that

Refers to something just mentioned by the other person.

Example

それは魅力的なお話ですね。

That sounds very appealing.

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?

あなたのごはん

anata no gohan

your food / your meal

あなた means 'you', and の shows possession, like 's in English. ごはん means 'meal' or 'cooked rice'. Make the ん at the end a soft nasal sound.

Example

あなたのごはんはテーブルにあるよ。

Your food is on the table.

Words in this phrase

あなた

anata

[ah-nah-tah]

you

Pronoun meaning “you.” In Japanese it can sound direct/rude; often avoided by using the person’s name/title instead.

Example

あなたはどう思いますか。

What do you think?

の

[no]

of; 's

A particle linking nouns, often showing type or belonging, as in indoor seat.

Example

店内の席が希望です。

An indoor seat is my preference.

ごはん

gohan

[goh-hahn]

rice; meal; cooked rice

Everyday word for “meal” (breakfast/lunch/dinner) or “cooked rice,” depending on context.

Example

ごはんをつくります。

I make a meal.

じゃないよ

ja nai yo

isn't (you know)

じゃない is the casual form of 'is not'. The ending よ adds emphasis, like telling someone something they may not know. Say 'ja-nai-yo' with a light, friendly tone.

Example

これは水じゃないよ。

This isn't water, you know.

Words in this phrase

じゃ

[ja]

is not

Negative form of the copula, indicating a negative state or action.

Example

それじゃない。

That's not it.

ない

nai

[nai]

not

Indicates negation or absence.

Example

問題はない。

There is no problem.

よ

[yoh]

you know; emphasis

Sentence-ending particle that adds emphasis or friendly assertion.

Example

大丈夫だよ。

It’s okay, you know.

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