Chinese for Talking About Diet Fads: Expressing Trends and Opinions
Learn to discuss popular diets and food trends in Mandarin, using phrases for describing fads, asking about eating habits, and sharing opinions at an intermediate level.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about diet fads and popular foods in Mandarin Chinese. Unlike sustainable eating, which focuses on long-term health and environmental impact, diet fads are temporary trends that gain sudden popularity. You will practice key vocabulary and sentence patterns to describe what's trendy, ask others about their diet, and express your views. By the end, you'll be able to engage in conversations about the latest food crazes, such as '生酮饮食' (keto diet) or '植物肉' (plant-based meat), and discuss why people follow them. This lesson is designed for intermediate learners who already have a basic grasp of Chinese grammar and vocabulary.
By the end, you can…
- describe popular diets and food fads using appropriate Chinese terms.
- ask and answer questions about someone's diet and eating habits.
- express opinions about whether a diet is a fad or sustainable.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
最近流行什么饮食？
What diet is popular recently?
Zuìjìn liúxíng shénme yǐnshí?
Use this to ask about current diet trends. '流行' means popular or trendy.
我在尝试生酮饮食。
I'm trying the keto diet.
Wǒ zài chángshì shēngtóng yǐnshí.
Say this to indicate you are experimenting with a specific diet. '尝试' means to try.
这种饮食方式只是一阵风。
This way of eating is just a fad.
Zhè zhǒng yǐnshí fāngshì zhǐshì yī zhèn fēng.
Use '一阵风' to describe something that is a passing trend. It literally means 'a gust of wind'.
你觉得植物肉怎么样？
What do you think of plant-based meat?
Nǐ juéde zhíwù ròu zěnmeyàng?
Ask for someone's opinion on a food trend. '怎么样' is a common way to ask 'how about'.
很多人跟风吃藜麦。
Many people follow the trend of eating quinoa.
Hěn duō rén gēnfēng chī lí mài.
'跟风' means to follow a trend. Use it to describe people jumping on a bandwagon.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To talk about what is trendy, use the pattern '最近流行 + [noun]' (Recently, [noun] is popular). For example, '最近流行低碳水饮食' (Recently, low-carb diets are popular). To express trying a diet, use '我在尝试 + [diet name]' (I am trying [diet]). For instance, '我在尝试间歇性断食' (I am trying intermittent fasting). To comment that something is a fad, say '只是一阵风' (is just a fad). You can combine these: '最近流行生酮饮食，但我觉得它只是一阵风' (Recently, keto diet is popular, but I think it's just a fad).
When to use it
Use these phrases in casual conversations about food and health. When someone mentions a new diet, you can ask '你试过吗？' (Have you tried it?) or '你觉得有用吗？' (Do you think it works?). If you want to express skepticism, say '我觉得这只是暂时的' (I think it's just temporary). Be mindful that '跟风' can have a slightly negative connotation, implying people follow trends without thinking. Use it carefully; for a neutral tone, say '很多人开始吃...' (Many people start eating...).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
最近流行什么饮食？我听说生酮饮食很火。
What diet is popular recently? I heard the keto diet is very hot.Zuìjìn liúxíng shénme yǐnshí? Wǒ tīngshuō shēngtóng yǐnshí hěn huǒ.是啊，很多人跟风，但我觉得它只是一阵风。
Yeah, many people follow the trend, but I think it's just a fad.Shì a, hěn duō rén gēnfēng, dàn wǒ juéde tā zhǐshì yī zhèn fēng.那你试过植物肉吗？你觉得怎么样？
Have you tried plant-based meat? What do you think of it?Nà nǐ shìguò zhíwù ròu ma? Nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?我试过，味道不错，但价格有点贵。
I've tried it, it tastes good, but it's a bit expensive.Wǒ shìguò, wèidào bùcuò, dàn jiàgé yǒudiǎn guì.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese conversations, discussing diet trends often involves sharing personal experiences and opinions. It's common to ask about someone's health or eating habits, but avoid being too direct about weight. Use phrases like '你最近在吃什么？' (What have you been eating lately?) to show interest without prying. Also, '跟风' is a common term but can sound critical; use it with friends or in casual settings.
One thing to watch for
Using '流行' to describe a person as 'popular' (e.g., '他很流行').
Try this instead: '流行' is used for things, not people. To say a person is popular, use '受欢迎' (shòu huānyíng). For example, '他很受欢迎' (He is very popular). For trends, '流行' is correct: '这种饮食很流行' (This diet is popular).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'Intermittent fasting is very popular recently' in Chinese?
Show a sample answer
最近间歇性断食很流行。
This uses '最近' (recently), '间歇性断食' (intermittent fasting), and '很流行' (very popular). Alternatively, you could say '最近流行间歇性断食' with a slightly different emphasis.
2Translate: 'I think this diet is just a fad.'
Show a sample answer
我觉得这种饮食只是一阵风。
This uses '我觉得' (I think), '这种饮食' (this diet), and '只是一阵风' (is just a fad). You could also say '我认为' instead of '我觉得' for a more formal tone.
3Ask someone: 'Have you tried the keto diet?'
Show a sample answer
你试过生酮饮食吗？
This uses '你试过' (you have tried) and '生酮饮食' (keto diet) with the question particle '吗'. You could also ask '你尝试过生酮饮食吗？' which is slightly more formal.
Use '流行' for trends, '尝试' for trying diets, and '一阵风' for fads. Ask others' opinions with '你觉得...怎么样？' and be mindful of '跟风' as it can sound critical.
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