テイクアウト

• Reading: テイクアウト
• Romaji: teiku auto
• Kanji breakdown: From English 'takeout' / 'take out'
• Pronunciation: /te.i.ku a.u.to/

Meaning

Takeout — getting food to go rather than eating at the restaurant.

テイクアウト became an explosively common word during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restaurants across Japan rapidly added takeout options to survive lockdown-era restrictions. While the word existed before, it entered everyday Japanese at an unprecedented level from 2020 onwards. Many restaurants that never offered takeout began doing so, and the reduced tax rate for テイクアウト (8% vs 10% for dining in) made it financially attractive too.

Examples

1. 今日は疲れたからテイクアウトにしよう。 I'm tired today, so let's just get takeout.
2. あの店、テイクアウトだと少し安くなるんだよ。 That place is a little cheaper if you get takeout.
3. コロナ以降テイクアウトできる店がめっちゃ増えたよね。 Ever since COVID, the number of places offering takeout has really exploded.

Usage Guide

Context: restaurants, daily life, convenience

Tone: neutral, practical

Do Say

• テイクアウトできますか？ (Can I get this to go?)
• テイクアウトのほうが税率安いよ。 (Takeout has a lower tax rate.)

Don't Say

• テイクアウト is appropriate in all contexts — a standard service term

Common Mistakes

• Saying テイクアウト at convenience stores — they already package everything to go; the term is used for restaurants

Origin & History

From English 'takeout' or 'take out.' While known before, it became ubiquitous during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) as restaurants nationwide added takeout services.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-existing but exploded during COVID-19 pandemic (2020)

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Post-pandemic, テイクアウト is now a standard option at most restaurants.