1.
vegetarian diet; plant-based eating; eating vegetables
A diet centered on vegetables and plant-based foods, excluding or minimizing meat and fish.
Literally 'vegetable eating,' composed of 菜 (vegetable) + 食 (eating/food). Refers to the practice or diet itself rather than the ideology — for the ideology, use 菜食主義 (vegetarianism).
Common collocations
- 菜食主義 — vegetarianism
- 菜食主義者 — vegetarian (person)
- 菜食中心 — mainly vegetarian
- 菜食料理 — vegetarian cuisine
- 完全菜食 — strict vegetarian diet; vegan diet
Similar words
- ベジタリアン — vegetarian (loanword, more common in casual conversation)
- ビーガン — vegan (loanword)
- 精進料理 — Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (traditional Japanese term with religious connotations)
Cultural note
Traditional Japanese cuisine historically included little meat, and Buddhist 精進料理 has a long history. Modern 菜食主義 as a lifestyle choice is growing but still relatively uncommon in Japan compared to Western countries.