Question
I’m planning a trip to Japan, and I’m a bit nervous about ordering food at restaurants. I want to make sure they know I can’t handle spicy dishes. How do I say “I can’t eat spicy food” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
辛（から）い食べ物（たべもの）が食（た）べられません。
Karai tabemono ga taberaremasen.
I can’t eat spicy food.
When dining in Japan, it’s important to indicate your food preferences, especially if you can’t tolerate certain flavors like spiciness. “Karai” means “spicy”, “tabemono” means “food”, and “taberaremasen” is the negative form of “can eat”, meaning “I can’t eat.” This phrase can help the restaurant staff understand your preference and suggest alternative dishes that suit your taste. You can also use this structure to express other dietary restrictions by replacing “karai” with words like “niku” (meat) or “sakana” (fish). Enjoy your culinary adventures in Japan!
