How to Say "I Am Vegan" in Korean and Avoid Animal Products
Learn to say you are vegan in Korean, explain that you avoid meat, fish, dairy and eggs, and ask whether a dish contains animal products.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In Korean, the most direct way to say you are vegan is 저는 비건이에요 (jeoneun bigeonieyo). The word 비건 (bigeon) is a loanword from English and is widely understood in cities, especially among younger people and in cafes and restaurants. However, many everyday dishes contain hidden animal products such as fish sauce, anchovy stock or egg, so you also need a few practical phrases to explain what you avoid and to ask about ingredients. This lesson gives you the core sentence, the words for the animal products you avoid, and polite questions you can use when ordering food.
By the end, you can…
- say "I am vegan" politely in Korean.
- list the animal products I avoid, including meat, fish, dairy and eggs.
- ask whether a dish contains animal products.
- explain the difference between vegetarian and vegan in simple Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저는 비건이에요.
I am vegan.
jeo-neun bi-geon-i-e-yo
The standard polite way to state your diet. Use it with restaurant staff or new acquaintances.
저는 채식주의자예요.
I am vegetarian.
jeo-neun chae-sik-ju-ui-ja-ye-yo
This means you do not eat meat or fish, but it does not clearly say whether you eat dairy or eggs. Add details if needed.
고기하고 생선을 안 먹어요.
I don't eat meat and fish.
go-gi-ha-go saeng-seon-eul an meo-geo-yo
A clear way to state the main things you avoid. 하고 (hago) means "and" between nouns here.
우유하고 계란도 안 먹어요.
I don't eat dairy or eggs either.
u-yu-ha-go gye-ran-do an meo-geo-yo
Use this to explain the difference from vegetarian. 도 (do) adds "also/too".
이거에 동물성 재료가 들어가요?
Does this contain animal products?
i-geo-e dong-mul-seong jae-ryo-ga deul-eo-ga-yo
A useful question for sauces, soups and side dishes. 동물성 재료 means ingredients of animal origin.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say what you do not eat, use the noun plus 을/를 plus 안 먹어요 (an meo-geo-yo). For example, 고기를 안 먹어요 (go-gi-reul an meo-geo-yo) means "I don't eat meat," and 계란을 안 먹어요 (gye-ran-eul an meo-geo-yo) means "I don't eat eggs." The particle 을/를 marks the object: use 을 after a consonant and 를 after a vowel. To connect two nouns, use 하고 (hago): 고기하고 생선 (go-gi-ha-go saeng-seon) means "meat and fish."
When to use it
Use 저는 비건이에요 (jeoneun bigeonieyo) as your main sentence. If the listener looks unsure, add 저는 고기하고 생선을 안 먹어요 (jeoneun go-gi-ha-go saeng-seon-eul an meo-geo-yo) and 우유하고 계란도 안 먹어요 (u-yu-ha-go gye-ran-do an meo-geo-yo). This separates vegan from vegetarian in a practical way. When ordering, ask 이거에 동물성 재료가 들어가요? (igeoe dongmulseong jaeryoga deureogayo?) before choosing a dish.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요. 저는 비건이에요.
Hello. I am vegan.an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. jeo-neun bi-geon-i-e-yo.네, 고기하고 생선을 안 드세요?
I see, you don't eat meat and fish?ne, go-gi-ha-go saeng-seon-eul an deu-se-yo?네. 우유하고 계란도 안 먹어요.
Right. I don't eat dairy or eggs either.ne. u-yu-ha-go gye-ran-do an meo-geo-yo.그럼 이 비빔밥은 괜찮아요. 계란이 없어요.
Then this bibimbap is fine. It has no egg.geu-reom i bi-bim-bap-eun gwaen-chan-a-yo. gye-ran-i eop-seo-yo.A little context goes a long way
비건 (bigeon) is understood in most Korean cities, but older restaurant staff may not know the exact meaning. Saying 채식주의자 (chaesikjuuija) first and then adding what you avoid is often clearer. In many traditional dishes, fish sauce or anchovy stock is used even when the dish looks vegetable-based, so asking about ingredients is genuinely useful rather than overly cautious.
One thing to watch for
Using 저는 채식주의자예요 (jeoneun chaesikjuuijayeyo) and assuming it means vegan.
Try this instead: 채식주의자 (chaesikjuuija) usually means vegetarian and may still include dairy or eggs. To be clear, say 저는 비건이에요 (jeoneun bigeonieyo) and add 우유하고 계란도 안 먹어요 (u-yu-ha-go gye-ran-do an meo-geo-yo).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say "I am vegan" politely in Korean?
Show a sample answer
저는 비건이에요. (jeoneun bigeonieyo.)
This is the standard polite sentence. You can also say 저는 비건입니다 (jeoneun bigeonimnida) in very formal settings, but 이에요 is natural for everyday conversation.
2How do you say "I don't eat dairy or eggs either"?
Show a sample answer
우유하고 계란도 안 먹어요. (u-yu-ha-go gye-ran-do an meo-geo-yo.)
하고 connects the two nouns, and 도 adds "also/too." You could also say 우유나 계란을 안 먹어요 (u-yu-na gye-ran-eul an meo-geo-yo), which means "I don't eat dairy or eggs."
3What question can you ask to check whether a dish contains animal products?
Show a sample answer
이거에 동물성 재료가 들어가요? (igeoe dongmulseong jaeryoga deureogayo?)
This asks whether animal-derived ingredients are included. A shorter alternative is 이거에 고기나 생선이 들어가요? (igeoe gogina saengseoni deureogayo?), asking specifically about meat or fish.
Say 저는 비건이에요 (jeoneun bigeonieyo) as your main sentence, then add 고기하고 생선을 안 먹어요 (gogi-hago saengseoneul an meogeoyo) and 우유하고 계란도 안 먹어요 (uyu-hago gyerando an meogeoyo) so your listener understands vegan, not just vegetarian.
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