1.
disliking food without having tasted it; refusing to try something
Originally about refusing to eat food one has never tried, based solely on appearance or preconceptions. By extension, used for rejecting anything without firsthand experience.
食べず嫌いはよくない。
It's not good to dislike things without trying them.
納豆を食べず嫌いしていた。
I had been avoiding natto without ever trying it.
食べず嫌いしないで、まず一口食べてみて。
Don't refuse it without trying — have a bite first.
Literally "disliking without eating," from 食べず (without eating, using the classical negative ず) and 嫌い (dislike, with rendaku becoming ぎらい). Used both as a noun and with する to form a verb (食べず嫌いする).
USAGE:
Originally about food, but commonly extended to other situations: refusing to read a book, watch a movie, or try an activity without having experienced it. Parents often use this phrase with children who refuse new foods.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 食べず嫌いをする — to refuse without trying
- 食べず嫌いをなくす — to overcome one's pickiness
- 食べず嫌いしないで — don't knock it till you try it
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 好き嫌い — likes and dislikes (especially about food)
- 偏食 — unbalanced diet, picky eating
- 先入観 — preconception, prejudice