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B1 noun #10,000 most common 11 min read

偏食

henshoku Top 10,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 偏食 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 偏食 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word '偏食' (henshoku) yet. Instead, you will learn the basic words for 'like' and 'dislike.' You might say 'Yasai ga kirai desu' (I hate vegetables). However, it's helpful to know that 'henshoku' is the word adults use when someone only eats what they like. Imagine a child who only eats white rice and bread—that is 'henshoku.' At this level, just remember the kanji '食' (shoku) which means 'to eat.' If you see '偏食' in a book, think of it as 'partial eating.' You might hear a teacher say this word to a parent. It is a noun, so you can use it with 'desu' (Henshoku desu - It is picky eating). Learning this word early helps you understand Japanese culture, where eating a variety of foods is very important for health. Even if you don't use it, recognizing it when people talk about children or health is a great first step. Focus on the idea of 'leaning' (偏) and 'eating' (食).

At the A2 level, you can start recognizing '偏食' (henshoku) in simple sentences about health and family. You might hear someone say 'Kodomo no henshoku ga shimpai desu' (I am worried about my child's picky eating). At this level, you should know that 'henshoku' is a more formal way to talk about 'sukikirai' (likes and dislikes) regarding food. You can use it as a noun. For example, 'Henshoku wa karada ni yokunai desu' (Picky eating is not good for the body). You might see this word on posters in a clinic or in a Japanese textbook for children. It is important to know that it refers to an *unbalanced* diet, not just a single dislike. If you only eat meat, that is 'henshoku.' You can use the phrase 'henshoku o suru' to mean 'to have an unbalanced diet.' This word is useful when you want to explain why you are taking vitamins or why you are trying to eat more vegetables. It shows you understand a bit more about health-related vocabulary beyond just 'oishii' (delicious) and 'mazui' (tastes bad).

At the B1 level, you are expected to use '偏食' (henshoku) in discussions about lifestyle and habits. You should understand the nuance that 'henshoku' implies a nutritional imbalance. You might use it in a sentence like 'Hitori-gurashi o hajimete kara, henshoku-gimi ni narimashita' (Since I started living alone, my diet has become somewhat unbalanced). You should also know the compound '偏食家' (henshokuka) to describe a 'picky eater.' At this level, you can compare 'henshoku' with 'sukikirai' and explain that 'henshoku' is the habit while 'sukikirai' are the specific feelings. You might encounter this word in news articles about 'Shokuiku' (food education) or in health check-up results. It's a key word for discussing social issues in Japan, like the changing diet of the younger generation. You can also use it with verbs like 'naosu' (to fix) or 'kaizen suru' (to improve). For example, 'Kenkō no tame ni henshoku o naoshitai desu' (I want to fix my picky eating for my health). This level requires you to move beyond simple descriptions and start discussing the consequences of habits.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using '偏食' (henshoku) in professional or semi-formal contexts. You can discuss the societal causes of 'henshoku,' such as the availability of convenience foods or the lack of time for home cooking. You might use phrases like 'henshoku ga hageshii' (extreme picky eating) or 'kyokutan na henshoku' (extreme picky eating). You should understand that the word carries a slight negative connotation regarding self-discipline and health management. In a debate about school lunches, you could argue, 'Gakkō kyūshoku wa kodomo no henshoku o kousei suru yakuwari ga aru' (School lunches have a role in correcting children's picky eating). You should also be aware of related terms like 'eiyou no katayori' (nutritional imbalance) and use them to provide a more sophisticated explanation. At this level, you can use 'henshoku' to analyze characters in literature or films, noting how their diet reflects their personality or mental state. You are expected to handle the word in complex sentences with various particles and auxiliary verbs.

At the C1 level, you can use '偏食' (henshoku) in nuanced discussions about psychology, sensory issues, and cultural values. You might discuss 'adult picky eating' (otona no henshoku) as a recognized psychological condition or a symptom of neurodiversity. You can use the word in academic writing to describe dietary trends in specific populations. For example, 'Seniors' picky eating (kōreisha no henshoku) is a significant factor in malnutrition.' You understand the metaphorical potential of the word, such as 'dokusho no henshoku' (reading only one type of book), and can use it creatively while acknowledging its primary dietary meaning. You can navigate the social etiquette of admitting to 'henshoku' in high-level business or social settings, using it to explain dietary restrictions politely. You should also be able to critique the cultural pressure in Japan to avoid 'henshoku' and how it impacts individuals. Your vocabulary should include related formal terms like 'fukinkou na setshu' (unbalanced intake) to complement your use of 'henshoku.'

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of '偏食' (henshoku) and its place within the broader tapestry of the Japanese language and culture. You can engage in high-level discourse about the evolution of the term from a simple description of fussiness to its current role in public health policy and 'Shokuiku' legislation. You can analyze the etymology of the kanji (偏 - biased, 食 - food) and discuss how this linguistic structure reflects Japanese values of harmony and balance. You can use the word fluently in any register, from clinical medical reports to satirical essays about modern lifestyle. You might explore the intersection of 'henshoku' with global food trends, such as veganism or keto diets, and how Japanese society labels these as 'henshoku' or 'kodawari' (special commitment). Your understanding is deep enough to recognize when the word is being used euphemistically or with hidden judgment. You can provide comprehensive advice to others on the linguistic nuances of the word, explaining exactly why 'henshoku' is chosen over 'sukikirai' in specific professional documents.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

偏食 in 30 Seconds

偏食 (henshoku) refers to the habit of picky eating or maintaining an unbalanced diet by only consuming specific foods.
It is a noun composed of 'biased' (偏) and 'eating' (食), emphasizing the lack of variety in one's nutritional intake.
Commonly used in medical, educational, and parenting contexts to discuss health risks associated with poor dietary choices.
Distinguished from 'sukikirai' (likes/dislikes) by focusing on the habit and its nutritional consequences rather than just personal feelings.

The Japanese word 偏食 (へんしょく - henshoku) is a noun that describes the habit of eating only specific types of food while avoiding others, leading to an unbalanced or biased diet. In English, we often translate this as 'picky eating' or 'unbalanced diet,' but the nuance in Japanese carries a slightly more clinical or formal weight, often discussed in the context of health, nutrition, and child development. The first kanji, 偏 (hen), means 'biased,' 'partial,' or 'leaning to one side,' while the second kanji, 食 (shoku), refers to 'food' or 'eating.' Together, they literally describe 'leaning eating'—a diet that tilts heavily toward specific preferences and away from nutritional variety.

Medical Context: In medical or nutritional settings, 偏食 refers to a dietary pattern that lacks essential nutrients due to the exclusion of certain food groups. Doctors might warn a patient that their 偏食 could lead to lifestyle diseases or vitamin deficiencies.
Educational Context: In Japanese schools, particularly during 'Kyushoku' (school lunch), the concept of overcoming 偏食 is highly emphasized. Teachers encourage students to eat everything provided to ensure they grow up healthy and develop a broad palate.
Social Context: While 'picky eating' in English can sometimes sound like a personality quirk, calling someone's diet 偏食 in Japanese often implies a concern for their health or a lack of discipline in their upbringing, though this varies by the speaker's relationship with the person.

幼少期の偏食は、将来の健康に影響を与える可能性があります。(Picky eating during early childhood may impact future health.)

Understanding the difference between 偏食 and the more colloquial term 好き嫌い (sukikirai - likes and dislikes) is crucial. While 好き嫌い refers to the individual items one likes or dislikes (e.g., 'I dislike carrots'), 偏食 refers to the *state* or *habit* of having an unbalanced diet because of those dislikes. You might say 'I have many likes and dislikes' (好き嫌いが多い), which results in 'picky eating' (偏食).

彼は野菜を一切食べないという極端な偏食家だ。(He is an extreme picky eater who doesn't eat any vegetables at all.)

In modern Japanese society, the term is frequently seen in articles about 'Shokuiku' (food education). The government and health organizations use 偏食 to highlight the dangers of modern diets that rely too heavily on processed foods or single food groups (like only eating ramen or bread). It is considered a hurdle to overcome for a long, healthy life. Culturally, there is a strong value placed on 'Mottainai' (not wasting) and 'Ichiju-Sansai' (one soup, three sides), both of which are antithetical to 偏食. Therefore, admitting to 偏食 in a formal setting might be seen as admitting to a lack of self-care or social etiquette.

一人暮らしを始めてから、食生活が偏食気味になった。(Since I started living alone, my eating habits have become somewhat unbalanced.)

Age Groups: While commonly associated with children, 'adult picky eating' (大人の偏食) is a growing topic of discussion in Japan, often linked to stress or sensory processing issues.

偏食を改善するために、新しいレシピに挑戦しています。(I am trying new recipes to improve my unbalanced diet.)

Finally, the word can be used metaphorically, though rarely. For instance, '偏食' in reading (only reading one genre) is sometimes called '読書の偏食,' although '偏読' is more common. In most cases, stick to its literal dietary meaning. It is a vital word for anyone living in Japan, as you will encounter it in health check-ups, school newsletters, and casual conversations about food preferences.

健康診断で偏食を指摘された。(I was told off about my unbalanced diet during my health check-up.)

Using 偏食 correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a noun. It often functions as the subject or object of a sentence, and frequently pairs with verbs like する (to do/have), 直す (to fix), 改善する (to improve), or 指摘する (to point out). Because it describes a state of being, you will often see it followed by がある (to have) or が激しい (to be extreme).

Common Verb Pairings: 偏食をする (to eat an unbalanced diet), 偏食を克服する (to overcome picky eating), 偏食を伴う (to involve/be accompanied by picky eating).

息子は肉ばかり食べて野菜を全く食べない偏食があります。(My son has a picky eating habit where he only eats meat and no vegetables.)

When describing someone who *is* a picky eater, you can use the compound 偏食家 (へんしょくか - henshokuka). The suffix '-ka' denotes a person with a particular trait or profession. While 'picky eater' in English can be casual, 'henshokuka' sounds a bit more descriptive and formal, almost like a classification.

彼は自他共に認める偏食家だ。(He is a self-admitted picky eater.)

In professional or academic writing, 偏食 is often used to discuss public health trends. It might be paired with words like 傾向 (keikou - tendency) or 問題 (mondai - problem). For example, '若者の偏食傾向' (the tendency of young people toward unbalanced diets) is a common headline in health reports.

現代人の偏食問題は、栄養バランスの乱れを引き起こしている。(The picky eating problem among modern people is causing a disruption in nutritional balance.)

Descriptive Adjectives: ひどい偏食 (terrible picky eating), 極端な偏食 (extreme picky eating), 軽度の偏食 (mild picky eating).

Another common structure is 偏食気味 (henshoku-gimi), which means 'tending toward picky eating' or 'leaning toward an unbalanced diet.' This is useful when you want to describe a temporary state or a slight concern rather than a fixed habit.

最近、忙しくて外食ばかりなので、偏食気味です。(Lately, I've been so busy eating out that my diet is becoming somewhat unbalanced.)

子供の偏食をなくすための工夫が必要です。(Ingenuity is needed to eliminate picky eating in children.)

Lastly, when talking about the cause of 偏食, you might use 〜による偏食 (picky eating caused by...). For example, 'アレルギーによる偏食' (unbalanced diet due to allergies). This helps clarify that the lack of variety isn't just about 'disliking' food but is forced by external factors.

わがままによる偏食は許されません。(Picky eating due to selfishness is not permitted.)

You will encounter 偏食 in several specific real-world scenarios in Japan. One of the most common is the parenting and education sphere. Mothers and fathers often discuss their children's eating habits in online forums, using the word to seek advice on how to get kids to eat vegetables. At school, during PTA meetings or parent-teacher conferences, a teacher might bring up a child's 偏食 if they are consistently leaving food untouched during the mandatory school lunch (Kyushoku).

School Lunches: In Japan, finishing your whole meal (kanshoku) is a sign of respect and health. 偏食 is seen as the obstacle to achieving this goal.

学校の先生に、息子の偏食について相談した。(I consulted the school teacher about my son's picky eating.)

Another frequent setting is medical check-ups (Kenkō Shindan). In Japan, annual health checks are common for employees and students. If your blood work shows a deficiency or if you are overweight, the doctor or nutritionist will likely ask about your 'shokuseikatsu' (eating lifestyle) and use the word 偏食 to describe any lack of variety they detect.

栄養士から、偏食を直すように指導を受けた。(I received guidance from a nutritionist to fix my unbalanced diet.)

You will also hear it in documentaries or variety shows that profile people with unusual lifestyles. For example, a show might feature a '偏食家' who has only eaten white rice for 20 years. In these contexts, it’s used to highlight an extreme or quirky personality trait. On social media, you might see the hashtag #偏食 or #偏食児 (picky eating child) where parents share photos of the 'bento' (lunch boxes) they've meticulously crafted to hide vegetables.

テレビ番組で、極端な偏食を持つ人の生活が紹介されていた。(A TV program introduced the life of a person with extreme picky eating habits.)

News & Media: News reports on the 'collapse of the dining table' (shokutaku no houkai) often cite 偏食 as a primary symptom of changing Japanese family dynamics.

In casual conversation between friends, if someone refuses multiple dishes at a restaurant, they might apologize by saying, '偏食があってすみません' (I'm sorry, I'm a picky eater). It sounds a bit more polite and explanatory than just saying 'I hate this' or 'I hate that.' It frames the behavior as a general trait rather than a specific rejection of the food being served.

彼は偏食が多いので、レストラン選びに苦労する。(He has many food biases, so it's hard to choose a restaurant.)

「偏食はわがままだ」という考え方は、最近変わりつつある。(The idea that 'picky eating is selfishness' has been changing recently.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 偏食 (henshoku) with 好き嫌い (sukikirai). While they are related, they are not interchangeable in all contexts. 好き嫌い refers to the likes and dislikes themselves. You can have 'likes and dislikes' for things other than food (like people or hobbies), but 偏食 is strictly related to dietary habits. Using 偏食 to describe your preference for music genres would be incorrect.

Incorrect Usage: ❌ 音楽の偏食がある (I have a picky eating of music). Correct: 音楽の好き嫌いが激しい (I have strong likes and dislikes in music).

食べ物の好き嫌いが多いと、結果として偏食になる。(If you have many food likes and dislikes, it results in an unbalanced diet.)

Another mistake is confusing 偏食 with 小食 (shoushoku - eating little). 小食 refers to the *quantity* of food (a small appetite), whereas 偏食 refers to the *variety* (or lack thereof). A person can be a 'big eater' (taishoku) but still have 'henshoku' if they only eat huge amounts of meat and no vegetables.

Learners also sometimes use the verb 偏食する as if it means 'to dislike a specific food.' It does not. You don't 'henshoku' a carrot. You 'henshoku' (engage in biased eating) as a general habit. The correct way to say you dislike something is 〜が嫌い or 〜が苦手.

❌ 私はトマトを偏食する。(I picky-eat tomatoes.)
✅ 私はトマトが嫌いで、偏食気味だ。(I hate tomatoes and have an unbalanced diet.)

Confusion with 粗食 (Soshoku): Soshoku (粗食) means a simple, humble diet (often healthy). Don't confuse it with the negative 'henshoku'. One is a choice of simplicity; the other is an imbalance of preference.

Lastly, be careful with the formality. While 偏食 is common, saying '偏食家' to someone's face might sound a bit like a diagnosis. In a casual dinner setting, it is often more natural to use the phrase '好き嫌いが多い' (I have many likes and dislikes) rather than the clinical '偏食がある'. Using 偏食 is better for discussing health, children's habits, or one's own general dietary problems in a slightly more serious tone.

「偏食」は健康上の問題を指すことが多く、「好き嫌い」は個人の感情を指すことが多い。( 'Henshoku' often refers to health issues, while 'sukikirai' often refers to personal feelings.)

❌ 彼は勉強に偏食がある。(He has picky eating in studying.)
✅ 彼は勉強の内容に偏りがある。(His study content is biased/unbalanced.)

To truly master 偏食, it helps to understand the words that surround it in the Japanese vocabulary. Depending on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey, you might choose a different term. Here is a breakdown of the most common alternatives and how they compare.

好き嫌い (Suki-kirai): The most common term for 'likes and dislikes.' It is casual and used in everyday conversation. While 偏食 focuses on the *unbalanced diet* resulting from these choices, 好き嫌い focuses on the *feelings* toward the food.
食べず嫌い (Tabezu-girai): This refers specifically to disliking a food without having ever tried it. It's a subset of 偏食. If someone says 'I don't like natto' but they've never tasted it, they have 'tabezu-girai'.
えり好み (Erigonomi): This means 'picking and choosing' or being fastidious. It can be used for food but also for jobs, clothes, or partners. It carries a nuance of being 'choosy' or 'fussy' rather than just having a dietary imbalance.

彼は食べず嫌いが多くて、食わず嫌い王という番組もあった。(He has many 'dislikes without trying,' and there was even a show called 'King of Disliking Without Trying'.)

If you are talking about the *nutritional* side of things without focusing on the 'picky' aspect, you would use 栄養の偏り (eiyou no katayori). This literally means 'imbalance of nutrition.' This is more objective and doesn't blame the person's preferences as much as 偏食 does.

忙しい現代人は、どうしても栄養の偏りが生じやすい。(Modern people who are busy inevitably tend to have a nutritional imbalance.)

For a more formal, academic, or medical term, you might see 不均衡な食事 (fukinkou na shokuji), meaning 'imbalanced meal.' This is rarely used in speech but appears in medical journals or textbooks. Conversely, for a very child-friendly term, parents might say 「わがまま食い」(wagamama-gui), meaning 'selfish eating,' though this is much less common than simply saying '好き嫌い'.

偏食を直すのは、単なる好き嫌いの克服以上の意味がある。(Fixing picky eating means more than just overcoming likes and dislikes.)

偏食 vs. 偏食家: Use '偏食' for the act or state. Use '偏食家' for the person. It's like 'picky eating' vs 'picky eater'.

In summary, use 好き嫌い for feelings, 偏食 for the habit/state of imbalance, 食べず嫌い for things not yet tried, and 栄養の偏り for the medical result. Understanding these distinctions will make your Japanese sound much more natural and precise.

「えり好み」せずに何でも食べるのが理想だ。(It's ideal to eat everything without being choosy.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

While 'hen' (偏) usually has a negative connotation of being biased, in some Buddhist contexts, 'hen' can refer to a partial truth. However, in 'henshoku,' it is strictly a health-related negative term.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /hen.ʃo.ku/

US /hen.ʃoʊ.ku/

Japanese is pitch-accented. In 'henshoku', the accent is typically flat (He-n-sho-ku) or slightly rising on the first syllable depending on the dialect.

Rhymes With

Genshoku (原色 - primary color) Kenshoku (賢食 - wise eating) Denshoku (電飾 - illumination) Senshoku (染色 - dyeing) Menshoku (免職 - dismissal) Tenshoku (転職 - job change) Renshoku (連食 - eating in succession) Zenshoku (前職 - previous job)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'n' as a full English 'n' instead of the Japanese nasal 'n'.
Elongating the 'o' in 'sho' too much.
Putting heavy stress on one syllable like English words.
Confusing 'hen' (偏) with 'hen' (変 - strange), though they sound the same.
Pronouncing 'ku' as a long 'koo'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The kanji 偏 is N2 level, but the word is common enough to be learned at B1/N3.

Writing 4/5

Writing 偏 correctly requires attention to the radicals.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward with no difficult clusters.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognizable in health and food contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

食べる (taberu) 食事 (shokuji) 好き (suki) 嫌い (kirai) 体 (karada)

Learn Next

栄養 (eiyou - nutrition) 健康 (kenkou - health) 克服 (kokufuku - overcome) 改善 (kaizen - improvement) 習慣 (shuukan - habit)

Advanced

摂食障害 (sesshoku shougai - eating disorder) 低栄養 (tei-eiyou - malnutrition) 食育基本法 (shokuiku kihonhou - Food Education Basic Law)

Grammar to Know

Noun + がある (Existence)

偏食がある。

Noun + をする (Action)

偏食をする。

Noun + 気味 (Tendency/Feeling)

偏食気味だ。

Noun + がち (Frequency of negative state)

偏食がちになる。

Noun + 家 (Person suffix)

偏食家。

Examples by Level

私は偏食があります。

I have a picky eating habit.

Simple [Noun] + ga arimasu.

子供の偏食は困ります。

Picky eating in children is a problem.

Possessive [Noun] no [Noun].

偏食は体によくないです。

Picky eating is not good for the body.

Topic marker 'wa' + [Adjective] nai.

彼は野菜の偏食があります。

He has a picky eating habit regarding vegetables.

Specific category [Noun] no [Noun].

偏食をやめましょう。

Let's stop picky eating.

Volitional form 'mashou'.

これは偏食ですか？

Is this picky eating?

Question form 'desu ka'.

私の偏食はひどいです。

My picky eating is terrible.

Adjective 'hidoi' modifying the noun.

偏食はだめですよ。

Picky eating is no good, you know.

Informal 'dame' + particle 'yo'.

野菜を食べないのは、ひどい偏食です。

Not eating vegetables is a terrible picky eating habit.

Using 'no wa' to turn a verb into a subject.

弟の偏食を直したいです。

I want to fix my younger brother's picky eating.

Verb 'naoshitai' (want to fix).

偏食をすると、病気になるかもしれません。

If you eat an unbalanced diet, you might get sick.

Conditional 'to' + 'kamoshiremasen'.

最近、偏食気味なので気をつけます。

Lately, I've been tending toward picky eating, so I'll be careful.

Suffix '-gimi' meaning 'tending to'.

偏食家はレストランで困ります。

Picky eaters have trouble at restaurants.

Using 'henshokuka' to mean 'picky eater'.

母は私の偏食を心配しています。

My mother is worried about my picky eating.

Verb 'shimpai shite imasu' (is worrying).

偏食をなくすために、料理を練習します。

In order to eliminate picky eating, I will practice cooking.

Purpose 'tame ni'.

子供のころ、ひどい偏食でした。

When I was a child, I was a terrible picky eater.

Past tense 'deshita'.

一人暮らしでは、偏食にならないように注意が必要です。

When living alone, caution is needed so as not to develop an unbalanced diet.

Negative 'ni naranai you ni' (so as not to become).

彼は肉しか食べないという、極端な偏食家だ。

He is an extreme picky eater who only eats meat.

Structure 'A to iu B' (B called A).

偏食を改善することで、肌の調子が良くなりました。

By improving my unbalanced diet, my skin condition has improved.

Gerund 'suru koto de' (by doing).

学校の給食は、子供たちの偏食を減らす役割があります。

School lunches have the role of reducing children's picky eating.

Noun 'yakuwari' (role).

偏食が原因で、鉄分が不足しています。

Due to picky eating, I am lacking iron.

Cause 'ga gen'in de' (with ... as the cause).

好きなものだけ食べるのは、偏食と言わざるを得ない。

Eating only what you like, one cannot help but call it picky eating.

Expression 'to iwazaru o enai' (cannot help but say).

偏食を指摘されて、少し恥ずかしかったです。

I felt a bit embarrassed when my picky eating was pointed out.

Passive form 'shiteki sarete'.

このサプリメントは、偏食がちな人におすすめです。

This supplement is recommended for people who tend toward an unbalanced diet.

Suffix '-gachi' (tending to happen often).

現代社会における偏食問題は、深刻化しています。

The problem of unbalanced diets in modern society is becoming more serious.

Noun + 'ni okeru' (in/at).

偏食を克服するためには、まず食材への理解を深めることが大切です。

To overcome picky eating, it is important to first deepen one's understanding of ingredients.

Conditional 'tame ni wa' (in order to...).

彼女の偏食は、単なるわがままではなく、感覚過敏が原因かもしれない。

Her picky eating may not be mere selfishness, but rather caused by sensory sensitivity.

Contrast 'de wa naku' (not A, but B).

偏食を放置すると、将来的に生活習慣病のリスクが高まります。

If picky eating is left unaddressed, the risk of lifestyle-related diseases will increase in the future.

Conditional 'to' with 'houchi suru' (to leave alone).

アスリートにとって、偏食はパフォーマンス低下の致命的な要因となる。

For athletes, an unbalanced diet becomes a fatal factor in performance decline.

Noun + 'ni totte' (for/from the perspective of).

親が偏食だと、子供も同じような食習慣を身につけてしまいがちだ。

If parents have unbalanced diets, children tend to acquire similar eating habits.

Suffix '-gachi' (tendency).

偏食を直すための心理学的なアプローチが研究されている。

Psychological approaches to fixing picky eating are being researched.

Passive 'kenkyuu sarete iru'.

海外生活では、現地の食材に慣れず、一時的に偏食になることがある。

When living abroad, one may temporarily develop an unbalanced diet due to not being used to local ingredients.

Potential 'koto ga aru' (there are times when).

偏食の背景には、家庭環境や心理的ストレスが複雑に絡み合っている。

Behind picky eating, family environment and psychological stress are intricately intertwined.

Adverb 'fukuzatsu ni' (intricately).

飽食の時代において、皮肉にも偏食による栄養失調が増加している。

In an era of abundance, ironically, malnutrition due to unbalanced diets is increasing.

Contrast 'ni oite' and 'ironically'.

特定の栄養素のみを摂取する偏食は、身体のホメオスタシスを乱す。

Picky eating that involves consuming only specific nutrients disrupts the body's homeostasis.

Technical term 'homeostasis'.

「食育」の推進は、国民の偏食を是正し、健康寿命を延ばすことを目的としている。

The promotion of 'Food Education' aims to correct the nation's unbalanced diets and extend healthy life expectancy.

Formal verb 'zeisei suru' (to correct).

偏食は単なる嗜好の問題ではなく、社会構造の変化を反映していると言える。

It can be said that picky eating is not merely a matter of preference but reflects changes in social structure.

Conclusion 'to ieru' (it can be said).

独居高齢者の偏食は、社会的孤立と密接に関連している場合が多い。

The unbalanced diets of elderly people living alone are often closely related to social isolation.

Adverb 'missetsu ni' (closely).

幼少期のトラウマが、成人後の極端な偏食として現れるケースも少なくない。

It is not uncommon for childhood trauma to manifest as extreme picky eating in adulthood.

Double negative 'sukunaku nai' (not a few/common).

情報の氾濫により、健康を意識しすぎるあまり、逆に偏食に陥る人々がいる。

Due to the flood of information, some people fall into unbalanced diets by being overly health-conscious.

Structure 'amari' (too much... that...).

偏食という現象を文化人類学的な視点から考察すると、食のタブーとの共通点が見えてくる。

Examining the phenomenon of picky eating from a cultural anthropological perspective reveals commonalities with food taboos.

Advanced verb 'kousatsu suru' (to consider/examine).

個人の偏食を「わがまま」と断罪する言説は、多様性を重んじる現代において再考を迫られている。

Discourses that condemn individual picky eating as 'selfishness' are being forced to be reconsidered in a modern age that values diversity.

Passive 'saikou o semararete iru' (being forced to reconsider).

偏食傾向のある児童に対し、強制的な食事指導を行うことの是非が問われている。

The pros and cons of conducting forced dietary guidance for children with picky eating tendencies are being questioned.

Noun 'zehi' (right or wrong/pros and cons).

嗜好の偏りは、脳内の報酬系回路の機能不全に起因する偏食である可能性も否定できない。

The possibility that biased preferences are picky eating stemming from dysfunction in the brain's reward system cannot be denied.

Double negative 'kanousei mo hitei dekinai'.

マスメディアが作り上げる理想の食卓像が、現実の偏食に対する過度な罪悪感を生んでいる。

The image of the ideal dining table created by mass media is generating excessive guilt toward actual picky eating.

Subject 'media ga tsukuriageru... zou' (the image media builds).

偏食を克服するプロセスは、自己の身体感覚を再構築する実存的な営みとも捉えられる。

The process of overcoming picky eating can be viewed as an existential endeavor to reconstruct one's own bodily sensations.

Noun '営み' (endeavor/activity).

グローバル化に伴う食の均質化が、皮肉にも地域固有の偏食形態を消失させている。

The homogenization of food accompanying globalization is, ironically, causing the disappearance of region-specific forms of picky eating.

Cause 'tomonau' (accompanying).

偏食は、身体が特定の栄養素を拒絶、あるいは希求する一種の生体防御反応とも解釈し得る。

Picky eating can also be interpreted as a type of biological defense response in which the body rejects or craves specific nutrients.

Auxiliary 'uru' (can/is possible).

Common Collocations

偏食を直す

偏食が激しい

偏食を改善する

偏食傾向

偏食家

ひどい偏食

偏食を指摘する

偏食を伴う

偏食気味

偏食をなくす

Common Phrases

偏食は万病の元

— An unbalanced diet is the source of all diseases. Similar to 'You are what you eat.'

偏食は万病の元だから、野菜も食べなさい。

極端な偏食

— Extreme picky eating, often used for people who eat only 1-2 items.

極端な偏食は成長を妨げる。

大人の偏食

— Adult picky eating, a term becoming more common in health discussions.

大人の偏食も深刻な問題だ。

偏食を克服する

— To overcome picky eating, often used in success stories.

努力の末、ついに偏食を克服した。

重度の偏食

— Severe picky eating, often used in clinical contexts.

重度の偏食には専門家の助けが必要だ。

偏食の矯正

— Correction of picky eating, usually referring to training children.

偏食の矯正は早いうちがいい。

野菜の偏食

— Picky eating specifically regarding vegetables.

野菜の偏食を直すレシピ。

偏食がち

— Tending to have an unbalanced diet frequently.

一人暮らしは偏食がちになる。

偏食自慢

— Boasting about being a picky eater (ironic/casual).

偏食自慢をしても格好良くない。

偏食指導

— Dietary guidance specifically targeting picky eating.

保健室で偏食指導を受けた。

Often Confused With

偏食 vs 好き嫌い

Sukikirai refers to the emotion of liking/disliking; Henshoku refers to the resulting dietary habit.

偏食 vs 小食

Shoushoku is about quantity (eating little); Henshoku is about variety (picky eating).

偏食 vs 拒食

Kyoshoku means refusing to eat altogether (as in anorexia); Henshoku is just being picky.

Idioms & Expressions

"箸が進まない"

— Literally 'the chopsticks do not advance.' Used when someone doesn't want to eat because they don't like the food.

嫌いなものばかりで、箸が進まない。

Idiomatic

"えり好みをする"

— To pick and choose fastidiously.

食べ物をえり好みしてはいけない。

Common

"食わず嫌い"

— Disliking something without trying it.

納豆は食わず嫌いだったが、食べたら美味しかった。

Common

"口に合わない"

— To not suit one's taste (a polite way to say you don't like it).

この料理は私の口に合わないようです。

Polite

"毒にも薬にもならない"

— Neither harmful nor beneficial (sometimes used for bland diets).

彼の偏食は、毒にも薬にもならないものばかりだ。

Literary

"身から出た錆"

— The rust that comes from the blade (one's own fault). Used for health issues caused by henshoku.

偏食で病気になるのは身から出た錆だ。

Idiomatic

"腹八分目"

— Eating until 80% full (often cited as the goal for those with henshoku issues).

偏食を避け、腹八分目を心がける。

Proverb

"三日坊主"

— A three-day monk (someone who quits easily). Used for failed attempts to fix henshoku.

偏食を直そうとしたが、三日坊主に終わった。

Common

"医食同源"

— Medicine and food have the same source. Used to encourage fixing henshoku.

医食同源を意識して、偏食を直しましょう。

Proverb

"猫も杓子も"

— Everyone and their ladle (everyone). Used to describe a widespread trend of henshoku.

最近は猫も杓子も偏食気味だ。

Idiomatic

Easily Confused

偏食 vs 偏食

Both start with 'hen'.

偏食 is picky eating; 編集 (henshuu) is editing.

雑誌の編集 (editing a magazine) vs 偏食を直す (fixing picky eating).

偏食 vs 変食

Homophones (both read as henshoku).

偏食 is picky eating; 変食 is a rare term for unusual/strange eating habits.

Usually, only 偏食 is used in daily life.

偏食 vs 粗食

Both end in 'shoku'.

偏食 is biased eating; 粗食 is a simple, humble diet.

粗食は健康に良い (Simple food is good for health).

偏食 vs 過食

Both are eating habits.

偏食 is picky eating; 過食 (kashoku) is overeating.

ストレスで過食する (overeat due to stress).

偏食 vs 絶食

Both are eating habits.

偏食 is picky eating; 絶食 (zesshoku) is fasting/not eating at all.

検査のために絶食する (fast for a check-up).

Sentence Patterns

[Person] は偏食があります。

私は偏食があります。

[Action] と、偏食になります。

外食ばかりだと、偏食になります。

偏食を [Verb-potential] ようにします。

偏食を直せるようにします。

偏食は [Result] の原因です。

偏食は栄養不足の原因です。

偏食を [Verb-stem] がちだ。

忙しいと偏食しがちだ。

偏食の背景には [Reason] がある。

偏食の背景にはストレスがある。

偏食と [Related Noun] は密接に関連している。

偏食と健康は密接に関連している。

偏食を [Perspective] から考察する。

偏食を文化的な視点から考察する。

Word Family

Nouns

偏食家 (picky eater)

偏食児 (picky eating child)

偏食傾向 (picky eating tendency)

Verbs

偏食する (to eat an unbalanced diet - though henshoku is usually used as a noun with 'o suru')

Adjectives

偏食がちな (tending to have an unbalanced diet)

栄養 (nutrition)

好き嫌い (likes and dislikes)

食育 (food education)

偏り (bias/imbalance)

健康 (health)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in health, education, and parenting discussions.

Common Mistakes

Using 'henshoku' for non-food likes. → 好き嫌い (sukikirai) or 偏り (katayori).
Henshoku is specifically for dietary habits. You can't have a 'henshoku' of music or movies.
Confusing 'henshoku' with 'shoushoku'. → 小食 (shoushoku) for small appetite.
One is about variety, the other is about quantity. A 'henshokuka' can eat a lot of the same thing.
Using 'henshoku' as a direct verb like 'henshoku suru' for a specific food. → トマトを避ける (avoid tomatoes) or トマトが嫌い (hate tomatoes).
You don't 'henshoku' an object. You 'have' henshoku as a general habit.
Thinking 'henshoku' means 'eating strange food'. → 偏食 (picky eating).
The 'hen' (偏) means biased/partial, not 'strange' (変), though they are pronounced the same.
Using 'henshoku' for allergies. → アレルギー (allergy).
Henshoku implies a preference or habit, whereas allergies are medical necessities.

Tips

Clinical vs. Casual

Use 'henshoku' when talking about health or habits. Use 'sukikirai' when talking about your feelings at a dinner table.

Verb Pairing

Remember that 'henshoku' is a noun. You need 'ga aru' or 'o suru' to make it a sentence about an action or state.

The School Lunch Factor

If you are teaching in Japan, 'henshoku' will be a word you hear often regarding students. It's a key part of food education.

Kanji Breakdown

Focus on the 'leaning' (偏) radical. It helps you remember that the diet is 'off-balance'.

Polite Refusal

Saying 'I have henshoku' can sometimes be a more 'adult' way to say 'I'm picky' than just saying 'I hate this'.

Medical Context

If a doctor says 'henshoku,' take it seriously—they are talking about your nutritional health, not just your taste.

Suffixes

Learn -ka (person) and -gimi (tendency) to expand how you use 'henshoku'.

News Keywords

In news about health, 'henshoku' is often grouped with 'undou-busoku' (lack of exercise) and 'suimin-busoku' (lack of sleep).

Hen = Biased

Associate 'Hen' with 'Henshuu' (editing/choosing) to remember that a picky eater 'edits' their food choices too much.

Dining Out

If you are a picky eater, mentioning your 'henshoku' early can help your Japanese hosts choose a suitable restaurant.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'HEN' as a 'hen' (chicken) that only eats 'SHOKU' (food) that is '偏' (partial/one-sided). A picky hen has 'henshoku'!

Visual Association

Imagine a scale (the kanji 偏 has a 'person' radical on the left and 'book/screen' on the right, but think of it as a person leaning). The scale is tipped heavily to one side because they only eat one thing.

Word Web

偏食野菜嫌い栄養失調好き嫌い健康診断食育偏食家バランス

Challenge

Try to list three foods you used to have 'henshoku' about as a child, using the sentence: '子供のころ、〜の偏食がありました。'

Word Origin

The word is composed of two Sino-Japanese characters (Kanji). '偏' (hen) originates from the idea of something being inclined or biased toward one side. '食' (shoku) is the ancient character for food or the act of eating. The combination emerged to describe dietary habits that are not balanced or 'centered.'

Original meaning: A biased or partial way of eating.

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word with adults; it can imply they are immature or unhealthy. Use '好き嫌い' (sukikirai) for a softer touch.

In the West, 'picky eating' is often seen as a phase children go through. In Japan, it's often treated as a health and character issue to be 'corrected.'

The TV show 'Kuwazugirai Wang' (King of Disliking Without Trying) where celebrities face off over foods they might hate. Japanese school lunch (Kyushoku) manuals often have sections dedicated to overcoming henshoku. Anime characters often have specific 'henshoku' traits, like Naruto's obsession with ramen.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a doctor's office

偏食はありますか？
偏食を改善しましょう。
偏食が原因かもしれません。
偏食による栄養不足。

At a school PTA meeting

子供の偏食が心配です。
給食で偏食を直す。
偏食をなくす工夫。
偏食児への対応。

Talking with friends about food

実は偏食家なんです。
偏食が多くてすみません。
昔は偏食だったけど。
偏食気味なんだよね。

Reading a health magazine

偏食傾向の調査。
偏食を直すレシピ。
大人の偏食問題。
偏食と生活習慣病。

At a restaurant

偏食があるので、これを抜いてください。
偏食家でも食べられるメニュー。
偏食を気にせず注文する。
偏食の友人と食事。

Conversation Starters

"子供のころ、偏食はありましたか？ (Did you have any picky eating habits as a child?)"

"最近、偏食気味だと感じることはありますか？ (Do you feel like you've been leaning toward an unbalanced diet lately?)"

"偏食を直すために、何か工夫をしていますか？ (Are you doing anything special to fix your picky eating?)"

"あなたの周りに極端な偏食家はいますか？ (Are there any extreme picky eaters around you?)"

"偏食は性格に関係があると思いますか？ (Do you think picky eating is related to personality?)"

Journal Prompts

自分の偏食について書いてみましょう。何が嫌いで、どうして食べないのですか？ (Write about your own picky eating. What do you hate, and why don't you eat it?)

偏食を直すメリットとデメリットについて考えてみてください。 (Think about the pros and cons of fixing picky eating.)

日本の「食育」について、どう思いますか？偏食は直すべきだと思いますか？ (What do you think about Japanese 'Food Education'? Do you think picky eating should be fixed?)

もしあなたが親だったら、子供の偏食をどうやって直しますか？ (If you were a parent, how would you fix your child's picky eating?)

偏食と健康の関係について、知っていることを書いてください。 (Write what you know about the relationship between picky eating and health.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in Japanese society, 'henshoku' is almost always viewed negatively because it implies a lack of nutritional balance and a failure to appreciate food. It is seen as something that should be corrected for the sake of health.

Yes, you can say 'Watashi wa henshoku desu' or 'Watashi wa henshoku ga arimasu' to admit you are a picky eater. It sounds slightly more clinical than 'sukikirai ga ooi'.

'Sukikirai' (likes and dislikes) is the cause, and 'henshoku' (unbalanced diet) is the result. You have 'sukikirai' which leads to 'henshoku'.

The most common phrase is '偏食を直す' (henshoku o naosu). In more formal settings, you can use '偏食を改善する' (henshoku o kaizen suru).

Yes, '偏食家' (henshokuka) is the standard way to refer to a 'picky eater' as a type of person.

Very much so. Overcoming 'henshoku' is a major goal of the Japanese school lunch system. Teachers often encourage children to try at least one bite of everything.

Generally, it applies to food. For drinks, you might use '偏飲' (hen'in), but it is much less common. Usually, people just use 'henshoku' to cover overall dietary bias.

No. If you can't eat something because of an allergy, it is not usually called 'henshoku.' 'Henshoku' implies a choice or a psychological dislike.

Use it when you feel your diet has become slightly unbalanced lately. For example: 'Saikin isogashikute henshoku-gimi desu' (I've been a bit picky/unbalanced lately because I'm busy).

Rarely. You might see 'dokusho no henshoku' (picky reading), but it's much better to use 'katayori' (bias) for non-food contexts.