Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of 'food scraps' is expressed through several words and phrases that distinguish between inedible parts, leftovers, and waste. The most common and useful term is 生ごみ (namagomi), which refers to kitchen waste like vegetable peels and leftover food. Other terms are used in specific contexts, such as composting, cooking, or formal waste management.
Referring to food waste that is thrown away, such as vegetable peels, eggshells, and leftover scraps from cooking or meals.
The standard term for kitchen waste, including vegetable peels, food scraps, and spoiled food. It is the most common word used in households and waste disposal contexts.
生ごみは毎日捨ててください。
Please throw away the kitchen waste every day.
生ごみの臭いが気になります。
I'm bothered by the smell of the kitchen waste.
A formal term for food waste, often used in official contexts, reports, or environmental discussions. It encompasses all discarded food, including industrial and household waste.
食品廃棄物の削減が課題です。
Reducing food waste is a challenge.
Refers specifically to leftover food from meals, often in institutional settings like schools or restaurants. Can sound slightly old-fashioned or formal.
学校の残飯は堆肥にしています。
The school's leftover food is made into compost.
Referring to food scraps that are recycled, such as for composting or feeding animals.
When specifically referring to kitchen scraps for composting, you can use 生ごみ and add context, like 堆肥用 (for compost).
生ごみを堆肥にしています。
I'm turning kitchen scraps into compost.
Refers to vegetable scraps or trimmings, often used in cooking or composting contexts. It specifically means leftover or discarded vegetable parts.
くず野菜でだしを取ります。
I make broth from vegetable scraps.
Leftover food from a meal, often used when talking about not wasting food or giving scraps to pets. It can refer to edible leftovers, not necessarily waste.
Referring to peels, shells, bones, and other parts that are discarded while cooking.
The stem or calyx of a fruit or vegetable, like the top of a tomato or strawberry. Commonly used when talking about removing inedible parts.
トマトのへたを取ってください。
Please remove the tomato stems.
Peel or skin of fruits and vegetables. Often used in cooking contexts when peeling or discarding skins.
Shell or husk, such as eggshells, nut shells, or shrimp shells. Used when referring to hard outer coverings that are discarded.
Bones from meat or fish. Often discarded as waste, but sometimes used for stock.
生ごみ (namagomi) is the everyday term for kitchen waste, while 食品廃棄物 (shokuhin haikibutsu) is a formal term used in official contexts like government reports or environmental policies. Use 生ごみ in daily conversation.
生ごみの出し方を教えてください。
Please tell me how to dispose of kitchen waste.
食品廃棄物のリサイクル率は向上しています。
The recycling rate of food waste is improving.
Directly translating 'food scraps' as 食べ物のくず (tabemono no kuzu) is not natural. Instead, use 生ごみ for general kitchen waste, or specific words like 皮 (kawa) for peels and 骨 (hone) for bones.
犬に食べ残しを与えないでください。
Please don't give the dog food scraps.
Please peel the apple.
Eggshells are kitchen waste.
Please be careful of the fish bones.