How to say “I am vegetarian” in Chinese
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Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Word by word
Tone tip
吃 is high and flat, 素 falls sharply. 我吃素 ('I eat plain') is how people actually say it; 素食者 (sùshízhě) is the noun 'vegetarian' but sounds like a label. To be extra clear, add 我不吃肉 (wǒ bù chī ròu), 'I don't eat meat'.
In a sentence
Wǒ chī sù, yǒu méiyǒu bú fàng ròu de cài?
I'm vegetarian, are there any dishes without meat?
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "I am vegetarian" in Chinese?+
"I am vegetarian" in Mandarin Chinese is 我吃素, pronounced wǒ chī sù. 吃 is high and flat, 素 falls sharply. 我吃素 ('I eat plain') is how people actually say it; 素食者 (sùshízhě) is the noun 'vegetarian' but sounds like a label. To be extra clear, add 我不吃肉 (wǒ bù chī ròu), 'I don't eat meat'.
What does 我吃素 mean literally?+
我吃素 breaks down as 我 (wǒ) = I, 吃 (chī) = to eat, 素 (sù) = plain / vegetarian food. Together it means "I am vegetarian".
How do I get the tones right in wǒ chī sù?+
吃 is high and flat, 素 falls sharply. 我吃素 ('I eat plain') is how people actually say it; 素食者 (sùshízhě) is the noun 'vegetarian' but sounds like a label. To be extra clear, add 我不吃肉 (wǒ bù chī ròu), 'I don't eat meat'.
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