Translation guide
The practice of abstaining from food, often for religious, health, or medical reasons. In Japanese, the most common word is 断食, but other terms exist depending on context.
To express the act of not eating for a period, often for health, religious, or protest reasons.
The standard word for fasting, covering religious, health, and protest contexts. Can be used as a noun or a suru-verb (断食する).
彼は宗教的な理由で断食をしている。
He is fasting for religious reasons.
健康のために断食を始めた。
I started fasting for my health.
Literally 'abstaining from food', often used in medical contexts (e.g., before surgery) or hunger strikes. More formal than 断食.
手術の前は絶食してください。
Please fast before the surgery.
Loanword from English, used mainly in trendy health and wellness contexts, like intermittent fasting.
最近、ファスティングが流行っている。
Fasting has become popular recently.
To refer to fasting as a spiritual practice, such as in Buddhism, Islam, or Christianity.
The general term for religious fasting. Works across religions.
イスラム教徒はラマダン中に断食を行う。
Muslims fast during Ramadan.
Specifically Buddhist vegetarian fasting, avoiding meat and sometimes all food. Often part of ascetic practice.
Purification through fasting and abstinence, used in Shinto and some Buddhist contexts. Rare in daily conversation.
To describe the requirement to not eat or drink for medical reasons.
Standard medical term for fasting, often used in instructions from doctors.
血液検査のため、朝食は絶食です。
You must fast for the blood test, so no breakfast.
Literally 'skip a meal', used in casual contexts when you need to fast for a short period.
検査の前は食事を抜いてください。
Please skip meals before the test.
To talk about the popular eating pattern where you cycle between eating and fasting periods.
The formal term for intermittent fasting, often used in health articles.
間欠的断食は体重減少に効果があると言われている。
Intermittent fasting is said to be effective for weight loss.
Commonly used in casual conversation and media for intermittent fasting.
16時間ファスティングを試している。
I'm trying 16-hour fasting.
断食 is the general word for fasting, used in religious, health, and protest contexts. 絶食 is more formal and often used in medical settings or hunger strikes. For everyday fasting, 断食 is preferred.
Fasting (断食) is not the same as dieting (ダイエット). ダイエット usually refers to a weight-loss diet, which may include fasting but is broader. Use 断食 specifically when you mean abstaining from food.
僧侶は精進料理を食べる。
Monks eat vegetarian Buddhist cuisine.
Purify oneself through fasting before the festival.