Useful Japanese expressions
Watashi wa vegetarian desu unfortunately won't get you anywhere.  It is usually met with blank stares and the meaning is interpretted differently by different people.  It's better to say that you can't eat any animal products and if whoever you are speaking to still looks confused or perplexed give a few examples and always say you don't eat fish or any type of animal stock because it's in almost everything. The most commonly used stock is fish stock (katsuo dashi).  Here is a list of expressions and words that may be helpful if you can't speak much Japanese.  Have a look here if you're not sure about pronunciation.
PHRASES

doubutsu wa taberemasen.     I can't eat animals.

doubutsu sei no mono wa subete taberemasen.     I can't eat any animal products.

_________  wa taberemasen.        I can't eat _________.

katsuo dashi mo taberemasen    I can't eat fish stock either.

abura wa nani o tsukatte imasu ka?       What kind of oil do you use?

doubutsu sei abura o tsukatte imasu ka?       Do you use animal fat?

shokubutsu sei abura o tsukatte imasu ka?       Do you use vegetable oil?

kono suupu no dashi wa nan desu ka?       What kind of stock is in this soup?

kore wa __________  ga haitte imasu ka?       Does this have __________ in it?
WORDS

sakana     fish
                       
toriniku   chicken

tamago   egg

gyuunyuu   cow milk
            
doubutsu   animal

shokubutsu   plant

katsuo   bonito fish

katsuo dashi  fish stock

kombu dashi   kelp stock
butaniku     pork

gyuuniku      beef

bataa   butter

chiizu  cheese

abura    oil

yasai    vegetable

dashi    stock

shokubutsu-sei abura  vegetable oil

doubutsu-sei abura  animal oil
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