素食

• Pinyin: sù shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 素 = plain, without meat or animal products; 食 = 人 + 良 (food, to eat) — vegetarian food

Meaning

Vegetarian food; a diet that excludes meat and sometimes other animal products. Also refers to the practice or philosophy of vegetarianism as a dietary choice or broader lifestyle orientation.

Covers both traditional Buddhist vegetarianism (which in strict forms also excludes pungent vegetables such as garlic and onion) and modern health- or ethics-driven vegetarianism. Increasingly prevalent in urban Chinese culture due to health consciousness, environmental concern, and ethical motivations. Commonly collocates with 主义、餐厅、者、饮食. Distinct from 吃素 (to eat vegetarian) in being a noun form.

Examples

1. 近年来，随着健康意识不断提升，越来越多的城市年轻人开始尝试素食，并将其视为一种可持续的生活方式。 In recent years, as health awareness has grown, more and more young people in cities have begun trying vegetarian food and see it as a sustainable lifestyle.
2. 这家餐厅主打精致素食，将传统食材以现代烹饪技法重新演绎，吸引了大批注重健康饮食的都市食客慕名而来。 This restaurant specializes in refined vegetarian cuisine, reinterpreting traditional ingredients with modern techniques and drawing many health-conscious urban diners who come specifically for it.
3. 出于对环境保护的深切关注，他经过深思熟虑后决定逐步过渡到以素食为主的饮食结构，从而减少个人碳足迹。 Deeply concerned about environmental protection, he decided after careful thought to gradually shift toward a mostly vegetarian diet to reduce his personal carbon footprint.

Usage Guide

Context: food, lifestyle, health, culture, environment

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这家素食餐厅的菜单设计极为用心，每道菜都在保留食材本味的基础上融入创意构思，让素食者和非素食者都能从中获得满足。(This vegetarian restaurant's menu is thoughtfully designed — each dish balances preserving the natural flavour of ingredients with creative ideas, offering satisfaction to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.)
• 越来越多的企业食堂开始提供完善的素食选项，以满足员工多元化的饮食需求，并积极响应低碳饮食的社会倡导。(A growing number of corporate canteens are offering comprehensive vegetarian options to meet employees' diverse dietary needs while actively supporting the social push towards lower-carbon diets.)

Don't Say

• 素食 在传统语境中通常不含奶蛋，与西方 vegetarian 的定义有所不同 — 在跨文化交流时应明确说明 含奶蛋素食 或 纯素食，以避免误解

Origin & History

素 (plain, without meat/animal products) + 食 (food, to eat) — food that is plain and free of meat

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal