Japanese for Reducing Waste: Talking About Composting in Everyday Conversation
Learn intermediate Japanese phrases to discuss composting and waste reduction. Practice a natural conversation about composting food scraps, using grammar patterns like 〜べきだ and 〜ようにする.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you'll learn how to talk about reducing waste in Japanese, with a focus on composting. You'll practice key phrases for suggesting what we should do, expressing obligation, and describing ongoing efforts. The conversation centers on a dialogue between two friends discussing food waste and composting. You'll also learn the difference between 生ゴミ (raw garbage) and 堆肥 (compost), and how to use the pattern 〜べきだ to say 'should' and 〜ようにする to say 'make an effort to'. By the end, you'll be able to participate in conversations about waste reduction and composting with confidence.
By the end, you can…
- suggest composting as a way to reduce waste using 堆肥にするべきだ.
- talk about separating food scraps and using a compost bin.
- express ongoing efforts to reduce waste with 〜ようにしている.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
生ゴミを堆肥にするべきだ。
We should compost food scraps.
Nama gomi o taihi ni suru beki da.
Use this to state that composting food waste is a good idea. べきだ expresses strong recommendation or obligation.
野菜くずはコンポストに入れよう。
Let's put vegetable scraps in the compost.
Yasai kuzu wa konposuto ni ireyō.
This is a friendly suggestion using the volitional form 入れよう. Use it among friends or family.
生ゴミを減らすようにしている。
I'm trying to reduce food waste.
Nama gomi o herasu yō ni shite iru.
This expresses an ongoing effort. Use 〜ようにしている to talk about habits you're trying to maintain.
堆肥を作るのは思ったより簡単だよ。
Making compost is easier than I thought.
Taihi o tsukuru no wa omotta yori kantan da yo.
Use this to encourage someone who thinks composting is difficult. 思ったより means 'than I thought'.
生ゴミをそのまま捨てるのはもったいない。
It's wasteful to just throw away food scraps.
Nama gomi o sono mama suteru no wa mottainai.
もったいない expresses a sense of wastefulness. Use this to explain why composting is important.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 〜べきだ is used to say 'should' or 'ought to'. It attaches to the dictionary form of verbs. For example, 生ゴミを堆肥にするべきだ (We should compost food scraps). To make it negative, use 〜べきではない: 生ゴミをそのまま捨てるべきではない (We shouldn't just throw away food scraps). Another useful pattern is 〜ようにする, which means 'to make an effort to' or 'to try to'. For example, 生ゴミを減らすようにしている (I'm trying to reduce food waste). This pattern is often used in the progressive form 〜ようにしている to describe ongoing efforts.
When to use it
Use 〜べきだ when you want to give strong advice or state what is morally or practically right. It can sound assertive, so in polite conversation, you might soften it with 〜べきだと思う (I think we should). For example, 生ゴミを堆肥にするべきだと思う (I think we should compost food scraps). Use 〜ようにしている to talk about personal habits or efforts you're making. It's softer and focuses on your own actions rather than telling others what to do. For example, 買い物のときはマイバッグを使うようにしている (I try to use my own bag when shopping). This pattern is great for discussing sustainability efforts without sounding preachy.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
最近、生ゴミを減らすようにしているんだ。
Recently, I've been trying to reduce food waste.Saikin, nama gomi o herasu yō ni shite irun da.へえ、どうやって？
Oh, how?Hē, dō yatte?野菜くずをコンポストに入れて、堆肥を作っているよ。
I put vegetable scraps in the compost and make fertilizer.Yasai kuzu o konposuto ni irete, taihi o tsukutte iru yo.いいね。私も生ゴミを堆肥にするべきだと思ってたところ。
That's nice. I was just thinking I should compost food scraps too.Ii ne. Watashi mo nama gomi o taihi ni suru beki da to omotte ta tokoro.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, composting at home is less common than in some countries, partly because of limited space and odor concerns. However, many municipalities encourage composting through subsidies for compost bins and community composting programs. When discussing waste reduction, Japanese people often use the term もったいない (mottainai) to express regret about waste. It's a culturally significant word that conveys a sense of respect for resources. Using it appropriately can show your understanding of Japanese values.
One thing to watch for
Using 〜べきだ with friends in a casual conversation without softening it, which can sound too forceful.
Try this instead: Soften the expression with 〜べきだと思う or use 〜たほうがいい. For example, instead of 生ゴミを堆肥にするべきだ, say 生ゴミを堆肥にしたほうがいいよ (You should compost food scraps). This is more natural in casual conversation.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'We should compost food scraps' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
生ゴミを堆肥にするべきだ。
This uses 〜べきだ to express 'should'. You can also say 生ゴミを堆肥にすべきだ, but 堆肥にする is more common because 堆肥 is a noun and にする means 'make into'.
2What is the difference between 生ゴミ and 堆肥?
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生ゴミ means 'raw garbage' or 'food scraps', while 堆肥 means 'compost' or 'fertilizer'.
生ゴミ refers to organic waste from food preparation, and 堆肥 is the product after decomposition. It's important not to mix them up.
3Translate: 'I'm trying to reduce food waste.'
Show a sample answer
生ゴミを減らすようにしている。
This uses 〜ようにしている to express an ongoing effort. You could also say 生ゴミを減らすようにしています in polite form.
Use 〜べきだ to say what we should do, and 〜ようにしている to talk about your own efforts. Remember to soften 〜べきだ with と思う in casual conversation.
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