How to Say 'I Am Vegan' in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to say you are vegan in Mandarin, explain that you avoid all animal products, and distinguish vegan from vegetarian (which includes dairy and eggs) in everyday Chinese.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin, the word for vegan is 纯素食 (chún sùshí) or 纯素 (chún sù). The key character is 纯 (chún), meaning 'pure' or 'strict', which signals that no animal products at all are consumed. This is different from 素食 (sùshí) or 吃素 (chī sù), which often means vegetarian and may allow dairy and eggs. In this lesson, you will learn five essential phrases to say you are vegan, explain what you avoid, and ask whether a dish contains animal ingredients. You will also see how to use the pattern 我不吃... (wǒ bù chī...) to list foods you do not eat. The lesson uses simplified Chinese and pinyin with tone marks. By the end, you will be able to handle a basic restaurant conversation about vegan food in Mandarin.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I am vegan' in Mandarin using 纯素食 or 纯素.
- explain that I do not eat meat, eggs, or dairy products.
- ask whether a dish contains animal ingredients.
- distinguish vegan from vegetarian in Chinese by using 纯素 versus 素食.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
我吃纯素食。
I eat a vegan diet. (I eat pure vegetarian food.)
wǒ chī chún sùshí
The most direct way to say 'I am vegan'. 纯 (chún) means 'pure' and 素食 (sùshí) means 'vegetarian food'. Use this in restaurants or when explaining your diet.
我是纯素食者。
I am a vegan. (I am a pure-vegetarian person.)
wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě
Adds 者 (zhě), a suffix meaning 'person who does something'. This is a clear, slightly formal way to identify yourself as vegan.
我不吃肉、蛋和奶制品。
I don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy products.
wǒ bù chī ròu, dàn hé nǎizhìpǐn
Lists the three main animal product groups. 肉 (ròu) = meat, 蛋 (dàn) = eggs, 奶制品 (nǎizhìpǐn) = dairy products. Use this to clarify what vegan means.
这道菜有动物成分吗？
Does this dish contain animal ingredients?
zhè dào cài yǒu dòngwù chéngfèn ma?
A polite question to ask before ordering. 这道菜 (zhè dào cài) = this dish, 动物成分 (dòngwù chéngfèn) = animal ingredients, 吗 (ma) makes it a yes/no question.
素食和纯素食不一样。
Vegetarian and vegan are not the same.
sùshí hé chún sùshí bù yīyàng
Use this to explain the difference. 素食 (sùshí) often includes dairy and eggs, while 纯素食 (chún sùshí) excludes all animal products. Note that 纯素食 is often shortened to 纯素 (chún sù) in speech.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 我不吃... (wǒ bù chī..., 'I don't eat...') lets you list any foods you avoid. For example: 我不吃肉 (wǒ bù chī ròu) = I don't eat meat. 我不吃鸡蛋 (wǒ bù chī jīdàn) = I don't eat eggs. 我不喝牛奶 (wǒ bù hē niúnǎi) = I don't drink milk. To say 'I am vegan', use 我吃纯素食 (wǒ chī chún sùshí) or 我是纯素食者 (wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě). The word 纯 (chún) is essential: it means 'pure' and distinguishes vegan from vegetarian. Without 纯, 素食 (sùshí) may still include dairy and eggs.
When to use it
Use 我吃纯素食 (wǒ chī chún sùshí) when ordering at a restaurant or explaining your diet to a host. If you want to be more specific, say 我不吃肉、蛋和奶制品 (wǒ bù chī ròu, dàn hé nǎizhìpǐn). When asking about a dish, use 这道菜有动物成分吗？ (zhè dào cài yǒu dòngwù chéngfèn ma?). If someone offers you 素食 (sùshí), clarify that you need 纯素食 (chún sùshí) because 素食 may contain 鸡蛋 (jīdàn, eggs) or 牛奶 (niúnǎi, milk). In Buddhist contexts, 素 (sù) often already excludes eggs and dairy, but in everyday modern usage, 纯素 is the safest term for vegan.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，我吃纯素食。你们有纯素的菜吗？
Hello, I am vegan. Do you have vegan dishes?nǐ hǎo, wǒ chī chún sùshí. nǐmen yǒu chún sù de cài ma?有。我们的炒青菜是纯素的，没有肉、蛋和奶制品。
Yes. Our stir-fried greens are vegan, with no meat, eggs, or dairy.yǒu. wǒmen de chǎo qīngcài shì chún sù de, méiyǒu ròu, dàn hé nǎizhìpǐn.太好了。这道菜有动物成分吗？
Great. Does this dish contain animal ingredients?tài hǎo le. zhè dào cài yǒu dòngwù chéngfèn ma?没有，请放心吃。
No, please eat with peace of mind.méiyǒu, qǐng fàngxīn chī.A little context goes a long way
In China, 素食 (sùshí) is widely understood, but it can mean different things. In Buddhist restaurants, 素 (sù) usually means no meat, and often no eggs or dairy either. In ordinary restaurants, 素食 may still include eggs or dairy, so if you are vegan, always say 纯素食 (chún sùshí) or 纯素 (chún sù). It is also helpful to mention 我不吃蛋和奶 (wǒ bù chī dàn hé nǎi) to be clear. Politeness matters: use 请问 (qǐngwèn, 'may I ask') before asking about ingredients, and thank the staff for checking.
One thing to watch for
Saying 我吃素 (wǒ chī sù) and assuming it means vegan.
Try this instead: 我吃素 (wǒ chī sù) usually means vegetarian and may include dairy and eggs. To be clear you are vegan, say 我吃纯素食 (wǒ chī chún sùshí) or 我是纯素食者 (wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě). Add 我不吃蛋和奶 (wǒ bù chī dàn hé nǎi) if needed.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I am vegan' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
我吃纯素食。 (wǒ chī chún sùshí.)
This uses 纯 (pure) and 素食 (vegetarian food). You can also say 我是纯素食者 (wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě). Both are correct; the first is more common in everyday speech.
2What is the difference between 素食 and 纯素食?
Show a sample answer
素食 (sùshí) is vegetarian and may include dairy and eggs; 纯素食 (chún sùshí) is vegan and excludes all animal products.
The key is 纯 (chún), meaning 'pure' or 'strict'. In some Buddhist contexts, 素食 may already be vegan, but in general modern usage, 纯素 is the safe term for vegan.
3How do you ask if a dish contains animal ingredients?
Show a sample answer
这道菜有动物成分吗？ (zhè dào cài yǒu dòngwù chéngfèn ma?)
This is a polite yes/no question. You can also ask 这道菜是纯素的吗？ (zhè dào cài shì chún sù de ma?) meaning 'Is this dish vegan?' Both are useful.
To say 'I am vegan' in Mandarin, use 我吃纯素食 (wǒ chī chún sùshí) or 我是纯素食者 (wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě). Remember 纯 (chún) is the key to distinguishing vegan from vegetarian. Always clarify that you avoid meat, eggs, and dairy with 我不吃肉、蛋和奶制品 (wǒ bù chī ròu, dàn hé nǎizhìpǐn).
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr