Lesson 5: うどんがすきです – I Like Udon (Food Preferences)

Talking about food preferences, meals, and expressing likes/dislikes.

This lesson focuses on discussing food and drinks, expressing preferences, and talking about eating habits. You'll learn vocabulary for common Japanese and international foods, verbs for eating and drinking, and how to express likes and dislikes.

Key topics:

・Common Japanese foods
・International foods and drinks
・Expressing likes and dislikes
・Talking about eating habits
・Breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods
・Ordering and offering food
・Expressing gratitude for food

Vocabulary

たべる

taberu

食たべる

to eat

Example

あさごはんをたべます.

Asagohan o tabemasu.

I eat breakfast.

のむ

nomu

飲のむ

to drink

Example

みずをのみます.

Mizu o nomimasu.

I drink water.

すき(な)

suki (na)

好すき

Example

さかながすきです.

Sakana ga suki desu.

I like fish.

あさごはん

asagohan

朝あさご飯はん

breakfast

Example

あさごはんをたべます.

Asagohan o tabemasu.

I eat breakfast.

いつも

itsumo

always

Example

いつもコーヒーをのみます.

Itsumo koohii o nomimasu.

I always drink coffee.

おさけ

osake

お酒さけ

alcohol / sake

Example

おさけをのみますか？

Osake o nomimasu ka?

Do you drink alcohol?

かれー

karee

カレー

curry

Example

かれーがすきです.

Karee ga suki desu.

I like curry.

きょう

kyou

今日きょう

today

Example

きょうのばんごはんはなんですか？

Kyou no bangohan wa nan desu ka?

What is today's dinner?

コーヒー

koohii

coffee

Example

コーヒーをのみます.

Koohii o nomimasu.

I drink coffee.

さかな

sakana

魚さかな

fish

Example

さかなをたべます.

Sakana o tabemasu.

I eat fish.

じゅーす

juusu

ジュース

juice

Example

オレンジじゅーすをのみます.

Orenji juusu o nomimasu.

I drink orange juice.

たべもの

tabemono

食たべ物もの

food

Example

にほんのたべものがすきです.

Nihon no tabemono ga suki desu.

I like Japanese food.

てんぷら

tenpura

天てんぷら

tempura

Example

てんぷらをたべたいです.

Tenpura o tabetai desu.

I want to eat tempura.

ぱん

pan

パン

bread

Example

あさぱんをたべます.

Asa pan o tabemasu.

I eat bread in the morning.

あまり

amari

rarely

Example

あまりにくをたべません.

Amari niku o tabemasen.

I don't eat meat much.

うどん

udon

udon noodles

Example

うどんがすきです.

Udon ga suki desu.

I like udon.

おちゃ

ocha

お茶ちゃ

tea / Japanese tea

Example

おちゃをのみます.

Ocha o nomimasu.

I drink tea.

ぎゅうどん

gyuudon

牛丼ぎゅうどん

beef bowl

Example

ぎゅうどんをたべます.

Gyuudon o tabemasu.

I eat beef bowl.

くだもの

kudamono

果物くだもの

fruit

Example

くだものをたべます.

Kudamono o tabemasu.

I eat fruit.

コーラ

koora

cola

Example

コーラをのみますか？

Koora o nomimasu ka?

Do you drink cola?

さしみ

sashimi

刺身さしみ

sashimi (sliced raw fish)

Example

さしみがすきです.

Sashimi ga suki desu.

I like sashimi.

シリアル

shiriaru

cereal

Example

あさシリアルをたべます.

Asa shiriaru o tabemasu.

I eat cereal in the morning.

すし

sushi

寿司すし

sushi

Example

すしをたべたいです.

Sushi o tabetai desu.

I want to eat sushi.

トマトじゅーす

tomato juusu

トマトジュース

tomato juice

Example

トマトじゅーすをのみます.

Tomato juusu o nomimasu.

I drink tomato juice.

にく

niku

肉にく

meat

Example

にくをたべます.

Niku o tabemasu.

I eat meat.

ビール

biiru

beer

Example

ビールをのみますか？

Biiru o nomimasu ka?

Do you drink beer?

うめぼし

umeboshi

梅干うめぼし

umeboshi (pickled plum)

Example

うめぼしがすきです.

Umeboshi ga suki desu.

I like pickled plum.

オレンジじゅーす

orenji juusu

オレンジジュース

orange juice

Example

オレンジじゅーすをのみます.

Orenji juusu o nomimasu.

I drink orange juice.

ぎゅうにゅう

gyuunyuu

牛乳ぎゅうにゅう

milk

Example

ぎゅうにゅうをのみます.

Gyuunyuu o nomimasu.

I drink milk.

こうちゃ

koucha

紅茶こうちゃ

black tea

Example

こうちゃがすきです.

Koucha ga suki desu.

I like black tea.

ごはん

gohan

ご飯はん

cooked rice

Example

ごはんをたべます.

Gohan o tabemasu.

I eat rice.

サラダ

sarada

salad

Example

サラダをたべます.

Sarada o tabemasu.

I eat salad.

スープ

suupu

soup

Example

スープをのみます.

Suupu o nomimasu.

I drink soup.

そば

soba

蕎麦そば

soba noodles

Example

そばがすきです.

Soba ga suki desu.

I like soba noodles.

たまご

tamago

卵たまご

egg

Example

あさたまごをたべます.

Asa tamago o tabemasu.

I eat eggs in the morning.

なっとう

nattou

納豆なっとう

natto (fermented soybeans)

Example

なっとうがすきです.

Nattou ga suki desu.

I like natto.

みず

mizu

水みず

water

Example

みずをのみます.

Mizu o nomimasu.

I drink water.

みそしる

misoshiru

味噌みそ汁みそしる

miso soup

Example

あさみそしるをのみます.

Asa misoshiru o nomimasu.

I drink miso soup in the morning.

よく

yoku

often

Example

よくすしをたべます.

Yoku sushi o tabemasu.

I often eat sushi.

わさび

wasabi

wasabi (Japanese horseradish)

Example

わさびがすきですか？

Wasabi ga suki desu ka?

Do you like wasabi?

え __ ！

e __ !

Huh?!

Example

え __ ！ほんとうですか？

E __ ! Hontou desu ka?

Huh?! Really?

やさい

yasai

野菜やさい

vegetable

Example

やさいをたべます.

Yasai o tabemasu.

I eat vegetables.

らーめん

raamen

ラーメン

ramen noodles

Example

らーめんがすきです.

Raamen ga suki desu.

I like ramen.

ヨーグルト

yooguruto

yoghurt

Example

あさヨーグルトをたべます.

Asa yooguruto o tabemasu.

I eat yoghurt in the morning.

りんごじゅーす

ringo juusu

りんごジュース

apple juice

Example

りんごじゅーすをのみます.

Ringo juusu o nomimasu.

I drink apple juice.

すごい！

sugoi!

Wow!

Example

すごい！おいしいです！

Sugoi! Oishii desu!

Wow! It's delicious!

Conversation

うどんがすきです.

Udon ga suki desu.

I like udon.

Example Usage

わたしはうどんがすきです.

Watashi wa Udon ga suki desu.

I like udon.

なにがすきですか？

Nani ga suki desu ka?

What do you like?

Example Usage

にほんのたべものでなにがすきですか？

Nihon no tabemono de nani ga suki desu ka?

What Japanese food do you like?

コーヒーお願いします.

Koohii onegaishimasu.

Coffee, please.

Example Usage

すみません、コーヒーお願ねがいします.

Sumimasen, koohii onegaishimasu.

Excuse me, coffee please.

あさごはんをたべます.

Asagohan o tabemasu.

I eat breakfast.

Example Usage

いつも７じにあさごはんをたべます.

Itsumo shichi-ji ni asagohan o tabemasu.

I always eat breakfast at 7 o'clock.

いただきます.

Itadakimasu.

Thank you for the food!

Example Usage

いただきます！

Itadakimasu!

Thank you for the food! (Let's eat)

いえ、けっこうです

ie, kekkou desu

No, thank you.

Example Usage

コーヒーはいかがですか？ - いえ、けっこうです.

Koohii wa ikaga desu ka? - Ie, kekkou desu.

How about some coffee? - No, thank you.

__ お願いします

onegaishimasu

__ please.

Example Usage

コーヒーお願ねがいします.

Koohii onegaishimasu.

Coffee, please.

Kanji

水みず

water

水🎬

water

Example

みずをのみます.

Mizu o nomimasu.

I drink water.

食たべます

to eat

食🎬

eat, food

Example

あさごはんをたべます.

Asagohan o tabemasu.

I eat breakfast.

飲のみます

to drink

飲🎬

drink

Example

みずをのみます.

Mizu o nomimasu.

I drink water.

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Expressing likes and dislikes

Structure: N + が + すきです／ N + は + すきじゃないです

Used to express likes and dislikes. 好すき is a ナ-adjective; add です to make it polite. 好すきです = 'I like it', and the object of 好すき is marked with が (肉にくと野菜やさいが好すきです). To make it negative, change ～です to ～じゃないです (魚さかなは好すきじゃないです).

How to use: Mark the thing you like with が and follow with すきです. For negatives, use すきじゃないです or すきじゃありません. In negative sentences, が often changes to は because the disliked item becomes the topic. To ask what someone likes, use the interrogative 何なに + が + すきですか？ with rising intonation.

💡 Pro Tip: すき is a ナ-adjective, not a verb — this is why it takes が and です rather than を. In casual speech, すきだ or just すき is common. Degree words like だいすき (love), すき (like), あまりすきじゃない (don't like much), and きらい (dislike) slot in before です. In negative sentences, は is more natural than が because you're contrasting or singling out the topic.

Examples

肉にくと野菜やさいが好すきです.

Niku to yasai ga suki desu.

I like meat and vegetables.

魚さかなは好すきじゃないです.

Sakana wa suki ja nai desu.

I don't like fish.

Rule 2: Softening a dislike or refusal with ちょっと…

Structure: N + は + ちょっと…

A gentle way of saying something negative without finishing the sentence. Used when asked whether you like something, it implies 'I can't eat that' or 'I'm not really fond of that.' Leaving the sentence unfinished softens the refusal or dislike.

How to use: Say the item with は, then ちょっと and trail off. The listener understands the rest — something like ちょっとむりです (it's a bit difficult) or ちょっとすきじゃないです (I don't really like it). Tone matters: a slight pause and a soft, hesitant voice makes it polite rather than blunt.

💡 Pro Tip: This is a very Japanese communication style — indirect refusal avoids hurting the other person's feelings. ちょっと literally means 'a little,' but here it does the heavy lifting of a full negative sentence. The same pattern works for invitations too: ちょっと… can decline a request without saying 'no' outright. Don't overuse it in formal situations where a clear answer is expected; a full sentence may be better there.

Examples

わさびは、ちょっと….

Wasabi wa, chotto…

Well, I don't really like wasabi…

パクチーは、ちょっと….

Pakuchī wa, chotto…

Cilantro is a bit… (I'm not really a fan)

Rule 3: Asking someone's intention with verbs

Structure: V + ます + か？／ V (dictionary-form) + ？

Used to ask questions with verbs, e.g. asking the other person's intention. The ます-form is the polite form: add か at the end and pronounce with rising intonation (飲のみます → 飲のみますか？). The dictionary-form is the basic form found in dictionaries; a question is made just by rising intonation (飲のむ？) and is casual, used in spoken language.

How to use: For polite questions, use the ます-form + か？ with rising intonation. For casual questions, use the dictionary-form with rising intonation only — no か needed. To ask what someone will drink or eat, add the interrogative 何なに before the verb: 何なに、飲のみますか？ / 何なに、飲のむ？.

💡 Pro Tip: Dropping か in casual speech is common — intonation alone marks the question. In polite speech, か is required; without it, 飲のみます sounds like a statement, not a question. Watch out for the difference between inviting someone (V-ませんか？) and simply asking (V-ますか？) — お茶ちゃ、飲のみませんか？ is an invitation ('Won't you have tea?'), while お茶ちゃ、飲のみますか？ is a simple question ('Will you have tea?').

Examples

お茶ちゃ、飲のみますか？

Ocha, nomimasu ka?

Would you like to drink some tea?

何なに、飲のむ？

Nani, nomu?

What will you drink?

Rule 4: Stating habits and facts with verbs

Structure: N (object) + を + V-ます

Used to state facts or customs with verbs, e.g. what one eats for breakfast. Mark the object of the verb with を and place it before the verb (シリアルを食たべます).

How to use: Place the object + を directly before the verb: シリアルを食たべます. Time expressions and adverbs usually come at the start of the sentence or before the verb. In questions and casual speech, the object-marking を is often omitted entirely, as in 朝あさご飯めし、いつも、何なに、食たべますか？.

💡 Pro Tip: を is one of the most reliably used particles in Japanese — when in doubt with a transitive verb, use it. But dropping it in speech is very natural, especially when context is clear; native speakers often say ご飯食はんしょくべた？ instead of ご飯めしを食たべた？. Don't drop を in formal writing or careful speech — it can sound sloppy.

Examples

シリアルを食たべます.

Shiriaru o tabemasu.

I eat cereals.

朝あさご飯めし、いつも、何なに、食たべますか？

Asagohan, itsumo, nani, tabemasu ka?

What do you usually eat for breakfast?

Rule 5: Making a verbal sentence negative

Structure: N + は + V-ません／ N + は + V-ないです

The negative form of a verbal sentence. Change ～ます to ～ません (食たべます → 食たべません). The object-marking を is often changed to は, as in 朝あさご飯めしは. In spoken language, ～ないです is also used, as in 食たべないです.

How to use: For polite negatives, change ます to ません. For casual or spoken negatives, use ないです (which is less stiff than ません but still polite). The object particle を typically shifts to は in negative sentences because the speaker is emphasizing or contrasting the item.

💡 Pro Tip: The switch from を to は in negatives is a topic-comment shift — you're saying 'as for X, I don't do Y.' Both ません and ないです are common, but ません is more formal and ないです is more conversational; ない alone is very casual. In casual speech, 食たべない with no です is also fine.

Examples

わたしは、朝あさご飯めしは、あまり食たべません.

Watashi wa, asagohan wa, amari tabemasen.

I don't eat much breakfast.

わたしも、食たべないです.

Watashi mo, tabenai desu.

I don't eat either.

Rule 6: Describing how often something happens

Structure: いつも / よく + V-ます／あまり + V-ません

Adverbs of frequency placed before verbs. いつも (always/usually) and よく (often) are used with affirmative sentences; あまり (not much) is used with negative sentences to show low frequency.

How to use: Place the frequency adverb before the verb, or earlier in the sentence — word order is flexible: よくヨーグルトを食たべます or ヨーグルトをよく食たべます are both correct. いつも and よく pair with affirmative verbs; あまり and ぜんぜん require negative verbs. ぜんぜん is stronger than あまり ('not at all' vs. 'not much').

💡 Pro Tip: あまり and ぜんぜん must always be followed by a negative verb — using them with affirmative verbs sounds ungrammatical. This mirrors the English rule with 'never/not much.' Also note that いつも literally means 'always,' but in casual conversation it often means 'usually' — context decides. If you want to emphasize a habitual routine, いつも is stronger than よく.

Examples

わたしは、パンと、卵たまごと、ヨーグルトをよく食たべます.

Watashi wa, pan to, tamago to, yōguruto o yoku tabemasu.

I often eat bread, eggs, and yogurt.

朝あさご飯めしは、あまり食たべません.

Asagohan wa, amari tabemasen.

I don't eat much breakfast.

Lesson 5: うどんがすきです – I Like Udon (Food Preferences)

Talking about food preferences, meals, and expressing likes/dislikes.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Expressing likes and dislikes

Rule 2: Softening a dislike or refusal with ちょっと…

Rule 3: Asking someone's intention with verbs

Rule 4: Stating habits and facts with verbs

Rule 5: Making a verbal sentence negative

Rule 6: Describing how often something happens

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20