How to Say 'I Am Allergic to Peanuts' in Japanese: State Food Allergies Clearly
Learn to say 'I am allergic to peanuts' in Japanese, name other allergens, and ask if a dish contains them. This lesson focuses on immune-reaction allergies, not gluten-free diet requests.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
If you have a food allergy, being able to state it clearly in Japanese is a practical safety skill. In this lesson you will learn the core pattern for saying you are allergic to a specific food, how to name common allergens such as peanuts, and how to ask whether a dish contains them. Japanese does not use articles like 'a' or 'an', and nouns generally do not change for plural, so the pattern stays simple. The key word is アレルギー (arerugī), meaning allergy. You will also learn why this is different from asking for gluten-free food: a gluten-free request may be a dietary preference or medical need, but an allergy statement describes an immune reaction and should be treated as a health warning.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I am allergic to peanuts' in Japanese.
- name at least three common allergens in Japanese.
- ask whether a dish contains a specific allergen.
- respond when someone asks about my allergies.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
ピーナッツアレルギーがあります。
I have a peanut allergy.
pīnattsu arerugī ga arimasu
A clear, direct way to state a peanut allergy. Use this with restaurant staff or when someone offers you food.
私はピーナッツにアレルギーがあります。
I am allergic to peanuts.
watashi wa pīnattsu ni arerugī ga arimasu
Adds 私は (watashi wa) for 'I' and に (ni) to mark the allergen. Natural in a full sentence.
これはピーナッツが入っていますか。
Does this contain peanuts?
kore wa pīnattsu ga haitte imasu ka
Use 入っています (haitte imasu) to ask whether an ingredient is included. Point to the dish or menu item when asking.
ピーナッツを食べると、具合が悪くなります。
If I eat peanuts, I become ill.
pīnattsu o taberu to, guai ga waruku narimasu
Explains the reaction. と (to) here means 'if/when'. Useful when you need to stress that this is a medical issue.
エピペンを持っています。
I have an EpiPen.
epipen o motte imasu
Useful in an emergency. エピペン (epipen) is the common Japanese term for an adrenaline auto-injector.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [allergen] + アレルギーがあります (arerugī ga arimasu), meaning 'I have an allergy to [allergen]'. For example, ピーナッツアレルギーがあります (pīnattsu arerugī ga arimasu) means 'I have a peanut allergy'. You can also say [allergen] + にアレルギーがあります (ni arerugī ga arimasu), as in そばにアレルギーがあります (soba ni arerugī ga arimasu), 'I am allergic to buckwheat'. To ask about a dish, use これは [allergen] が入っていますか (kore wa [allergen] ga haitte imasu ka), meaning 'Does this contain [allergen]?' Japanese nouns do not change for plural, so ピーナッツ can mean 'peanut' or 'peanuts' depending on context.
When to use it
Use these phrases before ordering or accepting food, especially at restaurants, bakeries, or social gatherings. For a severe allergy, state it first, then ask about ingredients: ピーナッツアレルギーがあります。これはピーナッツが入っていますか (pīnattsu arerugī ga arimasu. kore wa pīnattsu ga haitte imasu ka). If you carry an EpiPen, say エピペンを持っています (epipen o motte imasu). This is not the same as asking for gluten-free food. A gluten-free request may be about diet or preference, but an allergy statement signals an immune reaction. In Japanese, アレルギー refers to the medical immune response, so use it only for true allergies, not for general dietary choices.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、ピーナッツアレルギーがあります。この料理にピーナッツが入っていますか。
Excuse me, I have a peanut allergy. Does this dish contain peanuts?sumimasen, pīnattsu arerugī ga arimasu. kono ryōri ni pīnattsu ga haitte imasu kaはい、この料理にはピーナッツが入っています。別の料理はいかがですか。
Yes, this dish contains peanuts. How about a different dish?hai, kono ryōri ni wa pīnattsu ga haitte imasu. betsu no ryōri wa ikaga desu kaでは、ピーナッツが入っていない料理を教えてください。
Then please tell me a dish that does not contain peanuts.dewa, pīnattsu ga haitte inai ryōri o oshiete kudasaiこの野菜炒めはピーナッツを使っていません。安全だと思います。
This vegetable stir-fry does not use peanuts. I think it is safe.kono yasai itame wa pīnattsu o tsukatte imasen. anzen da to omoimasuA little context goes a long way
In Japan, allergy awareness is growing, but communication may rely on you stating your needs clearly. Staff may not always know every ingredient, so asking 入っていますか (haitte imasu ka) is practical. Avoid saying アレルギー for a preference; it specifically means an immune reaction. If your allergy is severe, mentioning エピペン (epipen) can help convey urgency without causing alarm.
One thing to watch for
Using アレルギー to mean 'I don't like' or 'I'm avoiding' a food, as in ピーナッツアレルギーがあります when you simply dislike peanuts.
Try this instead: Use アレルギー only for a medical immune reaction. For a preference, say ピーナッツが苦手です (pīnattsu ga nigate desu), meaning 'I am not good with peanuts' or 'I dislike peanuts'. If you have a true allergy, say ピーナッツアレルギーがあります (pīnattsu arerugī ga arimasu).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I am allergic to peanuts' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
ピーナッツにアレルギーがあります。 (pīnattsu ni arerugī ga arimasu)
This uses the allergen + にアレルギーがあります pattern. ピーナッツアレルギーがあります is also correct and common.
2Ask whether a dish contains buckwheat (そば, soba).
Show a sample answer
これはそばが入っていますか。 (kore wa soba ga haitte imasu ka)
This asks 'Does this contain buckwheat?' The pattern 入っていますか works for many ingredients.
3What should you say if you carry an EpiPen?
Show a sample answer
エピペンを持っています。 (epipen o motte imasu)
This states 'I have an EpiPen.' It is useful in emergencies. You can also say エピペンがあります (epipen ga arimasu).
State your allergy clearly with [allergen] + アレルギーがあります, then ask 入っていますか to check ingredients. Remember: アレルギー is for immune reactions, not gluten-free preferences.
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