テイクアウト

§ What does テイクアウト mean?

Japanese Word

テイクアウト (teikuauto)

Meaning

Takeout (food or drink purchased from a restaurant or shop to be consumed elsewhere).

The Japanese word テイクアウト (teikuauto) is a direct loanword from the English word "takeout." It means exactly what you think it means: food or drinks that you buy from a restaurant or shop to eat or drink somewhere else, like at home, in the park, or at work. You'll hear this word constantly in Japan, especially in cities and at train stations.

It's a very common and practical word to know, as it applies to almost any type of food or drink you might want to get on the go. From your morning coffee to your evening bento box, if you're not eating it inside the establishment, you're probably getting it テイクアウト.

§ When to use it

You use テイクアウト whenever you are ordering food or drinks to consume outside of the store. Here are some common situations:

• When ordering at a cafe and wanting your drink to go.
• When buying a meal from a restaurant to eat at home.
• When getting food from a convenience store (konbini) or supermarket to eat later.
• When asking if a restaurant offers food for external consumption.

It's a very versatile term. Just like in English, you can use it as a noun to refer to the food itself, or as a verb (often with する - suru) to mean "to take out."

You might also hear the term 「お持ち帰り」 (omochikaeri) which means the same thing. While both are used, テイクアウト is often preferred, especially in more modern or Western-style establishments like cafes and fast-food restaurants. 「お持ち帰り」 might feel a bit more traditional or polite, but both are understood.

When you're ordering, the staff might ask you: 「こちらでお召し上がりですか、それともテイクアウトですか？」 (Kochira de omeshiagari desu ka, soreとも teikuauto desu ka?) which means "Are you eating here, or is it takeout?" You can simply respond with 「テイクアウトで。」 (Teikuauto de.) if you want to take it to go.

In summary, テイクアウト is a super useful word for anyone navigating food and drink in Japan. It's easy to remember because it sounds just like the English word, and it will help you get your meals and beverages conveniently when you're on the move.