How to say "Japanese" in Japanese

When translating "japanese" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 日本語 and 和食. In Japanese, 日本語 (にほんご (nihongo)) is typically associated with "Japanese language" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Refers to the Japanese language. Similar to 英語, often used with 話す. On the other hand, 和食 (わしょく (washoku)) maps to "Japanese food" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers specifically to traditional Japanese cuisine. It is often contrasted with `洋食`. A literal translation of "japanese" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!