Chinese Conversation · Level 24
90 words
Chinese word
素食
Pronunciation
Pinyinsù shí
Meaning
- nounvegetarian food
Example
这道菜是素食，很健康。zhè dào cài shì sù shí hěn jiàn kāng
This dish is vegetarian and very healthy.
More examples
她为了健康开始吃素食。tā wèi le jiàn kāng kāi shǐ chī sù shí
She started eating vegetarian food for her health.
Core concept
A meal or diet made by leaving meat out and relying on plant foods.
Common phrases
吃素食chī sù shí
eat vegetarian food
去素食餐厅qù sù shí cān tīng
go to a vegetarian restaurant
点素食diǎn sù shí
order vegetarian food
Similar words
素食者sù shí zhě: A person whose diet avoids meat and fish.
纯素chún sù: An eating pattern with no animal foods at all, including eggs and dairy.
蛋奶素dàn nǎi sù: An eating pattern that avoids meat and fish but permits eggs and dairy.
素菜sù cài: A vegetable-centered dish prepared without meat or fish.
Definition in Chinese
指不吃肉类、以蔬菜和植物性食材为主的饮食习惯，也可指相应的素菜或素食菜品。zhǐ bù chī ròu lèi yǐ shū cài hé zhí wù xìng shí cái wéi zhǔ de yǐn shí xí guàn yě kě zhǐ xiāng yìng de sù cài huò sù shí cài pǐn
Word origin
In 素食 (sùshí, "vegetarian food"), 素 (sù, "plain or non-meat") marks the food as not meat-based and 食 (shí, "food or eating") names what is eaten.
Usage tips
- At a restaurant, the word identifies a meat-free choice, but it does not state whether eggs, milk, or other animal ingredients are included, so the ingredients may need checking.
Other meanings
- vegetarian dietnoun
- vegetarianismnoun
Opposites
- 肉食ròu shímeat-eatingnoun
Related words
- 素食主义sù shí zhǔ yìvegetarianismnoun
- 素食主义者sù shí zhǔ yì zhěvegetariannoun