Dietary & Allergies

1. 我吃素。

   wǒ chī sù

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   Most natural way to declare vegetarianism in Chinese

   Grammar Note

   "chī sù" is a set expression: "to eat vegetarian"

2. 我是纯素食者，不吃任何动物制品。

   wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě, bù chī rènhé dòngwù zhìpǐn

   I'm vegan and don't eat any animal products.

   Usage

   Avoids all animal-derived foods

   Grammar Note

   "rènhé" with negation = "any / none at all"

3. 我对坚果过敏。

   wǒ duì jiānguǒ guòmǐn

   I'm allergic to nuts.

   Usage

   Declares tree-nut allergy

   Grammar Note

   "duì ~ guòmǐn" is the standard pattern for "allergic to ~"

4. 你们有无麸质的菜单吗？

   nǐmen yǒu wú fūzhì de càidān ma?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   Celiac/gluten intolerance question

   Grammar Note

   Sentence-final "ma" forms a yes/no question

5. 我吃清真，不吃猪肉。

   wǒ chī qīngzhēn, bù chī zhūròu

   I keep halal and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Declares Muslim observance

   Grammar Note

   "qīngzhēn" denotes halal in the Chinese-speaking world

6. 我有乳糖不耐症。

   wǒ yǒu rǔtáng bùnài zhèng

   I am lactose intolerant.

   Usage

   Declares lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   Distinct from an allergy ("guòmǐn")

7. 我对甲壳类海鲜过敏。

   wǒ duì jiǎqiào lèi hǎixiān guòmǐn

   I'm allergic to shellfish.

   Usage

   Often severe shellfish allergy

   Grammar Note

   Mollusks are "bèi lèi"; specify separately for precision

8. 这道菜里有什么食材？

   zhè dào cài lǐ yǒu shénme shícái?

   What ingredients are in this dish?

   Usage

   Standard ingredient-check question

   Grammar Note

   "shénme" is the interrogative for "what"

9. 可以做不加洋葱的吗？

   kěyǐ zuò bù jiā yángcōng de ma?

   Can you make it without onions?

   Usage

   Request to omit an ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "kěyǐ ~ ma?" asks if something is permitted/possible

10. 我对鸡蛋过敏。

    wǒ duì jīdàn guòmǐn

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Watch for hidden eggs

    Grammar Note

    "dàn" alone also means "egg"

11. 请问有过敏原信息吗？

    qǐngwèn yǒu guòmǐn yuán xìnxī ma?

    May I ask if you have allergen information?

    Usage

    Politely asks for allergen info

    Grammar Note

    "qǐngwèn" prefaces a polite question

12. 这个过敏会危及生命，请务必小心。

    zhège guòmǐn huì wēijí shēngmìng, qǐng wùbì xiǎoxīn

    This allergy can endanger life. Please be very careful.

    Usage

    Communicates anaphylaxis risk

    Grammar Note

    "wùbì" emphasizes "absolutely must" in formal speech

13. 这个有用花生油吗？

    zhège yǒu yòng huāshēng yóu ma?

    Is peanut oil used in this?

    Usage

    Peanut oil is commonly used in Chinese cuisine

    Grammar Note

    "yǒu yòng ~ ma?" asks "do you use ~?"

14. 处理过敏原食物时会用分开的器具吗？

    chǔlǐ guòmǐn yuán shíwù shí huì yòng fēnkāi de qìjù ma?

    Do you use separate utensils when handling allergen food?

    Usage

    Checks cross-contamination control

    Grammar Note

    "shí" = "when ~"

15. 谢谢你们配合我的饮食需求。

    xièxie nǐmen pèihé wǒ de yǐnshí xūqiú

    Thank you for accommodating my dietary needs.

    Usage

    Polite gratitude for accommodation

    Grammar Note

    "pèihé" means "to cooperate / accommodate"

16. 因为宗教因素，我不吃牛肉。

    yīnwèi zōngjiào yīnsù, wǒ bù chī niúròu

    For religious reasons I don't eat beef.

    Usage

    Explains religious avoidance of beef

    Grammar Note

    "yīnwèi ~" introduces a reason clause

17. 猪肉

    zhūròu

    Pork

    Usage

    Also used for religious restrictions; point at it to ask whether a dish contains pork

18. 牛肉

    niúròu

    Beef

    Usage

    Also used for religious restrictions

19. 鸡肉

    jīròu

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point at it to ask whether a dish contains chicken

20. 鱼

    yú

    Fish

    Usage

    Used to check for fish in a dish

21. 鸡蛋

    jīdàn

    Egg

    Usage

    Used to check for egg in a dish

22. 乳制品

    rǔzhìpǐn

    Dairy products

    Usage

    Covers milk, butter, and cheese together

23. 花生

    huāshēng

    Peanut

    Usage

    The most critical allergen to confirm; peanut oil uses the same word

24. 坚果

    jiānguǒ

    Tree nuts

    Usage

    Almonds, walnuts, and the like — peanuts ("huāshēng") are counted separately

25. 甲壳类

    jiǎqiàolèi

    Crustaceans (shellfish)

    Usage

    Shrimp and crab; molluscs are "bèilèi", a separate word

26. 小麦

    xiǎomài

    Wheat

    Usage

    Used to check for wheat and gluten

27. 大豆

    dàdòu

    Soy

    Usage

    Comes up often because soy sauce and tofu both contain it

28. 芝麻

    zhīma

    Sesame

    Usage

    Sesame oil is covered by the same word

29. 酒精

    jiǔjīng

    Alcohol (as an ingredient)

    Usage

    Alcohol as a substance — distinct from "jiǔ" (a drink); used to check cooking wine

Browse all TravelPhrases languages