What's the difference between bejitarian and Saishokushugi?


I have seen vegetarian translated as both `bejitarian` and `Saishokushugi`.

`bejitarian` is obviously an adaptation of vegetarian.

`Saishokushugi` can be loosely translated as faith to vegetables.

But what's the difference between the two terms and when would you use one
over the other?




菜食主義 ( _saishoku-shugi_ ) is vegetarianism, and 菜食主義者 ( _saishoku-shugi-sha_ )
is a vegetarian, a person who practice vegetarianism. To break down:

  * 菜 _sai_ : vegetable
  * 食 _shoku_ : eat
  * 主義 _shugi_ : belief, ism
  * 者 _sha_ : person

To me, ベジタリアン and 菜食主義 **者** are almost identical as far as meaning goes. I
believe you can safely use whichever you prefer in most cases. In casual
settings, I feel many people prefer ベジタリアン, presumably because it sounds less
stiff and is a lot easier to pronounce.

The number of vegetarians in Japan is probably small, and I feel few people in
Japan practice vegetarianism for religious or ethical reasons. Most
vegetarians in Japan refuse to eat meat for health-related reasons, so 菜食主義者
and ベジタリアン usually refer to such people. I'm vaguely aware that there are many
sub-types of vegetarianism in western countries (including veganism), but they
are scarcely recognized here in Japan.




菜食主義 ( _saishoku-shugi_ ) is vegetarianism, and 菜食主義者 ( _saishoku-shugi-sha_ )
is a vegetarian, a person who practice vegetarianism. To break down:

  * 菜 _sai_ : vegetable
  * 食 _shoku_ : eat
  * 主義 _shugi_ : belief, ism
  * 者 _sha_ : person

To me, ベジタリアン and 菜食主義 **者** are almost identical as far as meaning goes. I
believe you can safely use whichever you prefer in most cases. In casual
settings, I feel many people prefer ベジタリアン, presumably because it sounds less
stiff and is a lot easier to pronounce.

The number of vegetarians in Japan is probably small, and I feel few people in
Japan practice vegetarianism for religious or ethical reasons. Most
vegetarians in Japan refuse to eat meat for health-related reasons, so 菜食主義者
and ベジタリアン usually refer to such people. I'm vaguely aware that there are many
sub-types of vegetarianism in western countries (including veganism), but they
are scarcely recognized here in Japan.

