Traveling through China as a vegan can be an incredible food experience—if you know what to ask.
The challenge is that saying “no meat” is often not enough. A dish may contain pork lard, chicken broth, shrimp paste, oyster sauce, fish sauce, egg, dairy, or animal-based seasoning even when there is no obvious meat on the plate.
So if you are searching for how to say vegan in Chinese, the most useful answer is not a single word. You need a short, specific phrase card that explains exactly what you cannot eat.
This guide gives you that card.
You’ll learn the most useful vegan Chinese phrases for restaurants, how to explain hidden ingredients, what to say when ordering in Shanghai or elsewhere in China, and how to handle situations where staff may interpret “vegetarian” differently from “vegan.”
Quick Answer: How Do You Say Vegan in Chinese?
The most useful way to say “I am vegan” in Mandarin is:
我是纯素食者。
Wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě.
I am vegan.
Another useful phrase is:
我是纯素的，不吃任何动物性食品。
Wǒ shì chún sù de, bù chī rènhé dòngwùxìng shípǐn.
I am vegan. I do not eat any animal products.
For ordering food, make the request even more specific:
不要肉、蛋、奶，也不要动物油、肉汤或海鲜调味料。
Bù yào ròu, dàn, nǎi, yě bù yào dòngwù yóu, ròu tāng huò hǎixiān tiáowèiliào.
No meat, eggs, dairy, animal oil, meat broth, or seafood-based seasonings.
That last version is much more useful at a restaurant because it addresses the hidden ingredients that can make an otherwise vegetable-based dish non-vegan.
The Best Chinese Vegan Phrase Card to Save
If you only memorize or save one section from this guide, make it this one.
Chinese Vegan Restaurant Card
我是纯素食者。
我不吃任何肉类、鱼、海鲜、蛋、奶和蜂蜜。
也不要猪油、动物油、鸡油、肉汤、鸡汤或海鲜汤。
不要蚝油、鱼露、虾酱、鸡精或其他动物性调味料。
请确认菜里没有这些东西，也没有用它们做汤底或调味。谢谢！
English translation
I am vegan.
I do not eat any meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, or honey.
I also do not want lard, animal oil, chicken fat, meat broth, chicken broth, or seafood broth.
Please do not use oyster sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, chicken seasoning, or other animal-based seasonings.
Please confirm that the dish does not contain these ingredients and that they were not used in the broth or seasoning. Thank you!
This is the core of a practical Chinese restaurant vegan card.
The key is that it does not stop at “no meat.” It tells the restaurant what hidden ingredients matter.
Why Saying “No Meat” Isn't Enough in China
One of the most common mistakes travelers make is assuming that a meat-free dish is automatically vegan.
It isn't.
Chinese cuisine uses a huge range of sauces, stocks, cooking fats, and seasoning ingredients. A plate of stir-fried vegetables might look completely plant-based while having been cooked with pork lard. A bowl of noodles may contain vegetables and tofu but use a chicken-based broth.
Even “vegetarian” food can contain eggs or dairy.
This is why learning how to say vegan in Chinese is really about learning how to communicate dietary boundaries.
A useful restaurant conversation needs to answer four questions:
- Does the food contain meat or seafood?
- Does it contain eggs or dairy?
- Was it cooked with animal fat?
- Does the sauce, broth, stock, or seasoning contain animal ingredients?
If you cover all four, you are far more likely to communicate what you actually mean.
“Vegan” vs. “Vegetarian” in Chinese
This distinction matters.
The Chinese word 素食 (sùshí) generally refers to vegetarian food or a vegetarian diet. Depending on the context, people may not automatically understand it to mean strict veganism.
For example:
素食
sùshí
vegetarian food / vegetarian
素食者
sùshí zhě
vegetarian
纯素
chún sù
vegan / strictly plant-based
纯素食者
chún sùshí zhě
vegan
If you are vegan, 纯素 is a particularly useful term because it emphasizes “pure” or strict plant-based eating.
Still, don't rely on the word alone. Pair it with specific examples.
Is “我吃素” the Same as Saying “I Am Vegan”?
Not exactly.
我吃素。
Wǒ chī sù.
I eat vegetarian food / I don't eat meat.
This is a common and useful phrase, but it may be interpreted broadly.
Someone hearing 我吃素 could understand that you avoid meat while still eating eggs, dairy, or certain animal-derived ingredients.
For a strict vegan diet, say:
我是纯素食者。
Wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě.
Then explain what that means for your meal.
The Most Important Vegan Chinese Phrases
You don't need to become fluent in Mandarin to order safely. A small vocabulary can cover most restaurant situations.
“I Am Vegan”
我是纯素食者。
Wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě.
I am vegan.
A shorter option:
我是纯素。
Wǒ shì chún sù.
I am vegan / I eat strictly plant-based.
“I Don't Eat Meat”
我不吃肉。
Wǒ bù chī ròu.
I don't eat meat.
This is helpful, but it should not be your only phrase.
“I Don't Eat Fish or Seafood”
我不吃鱼和海鲜。
Wǒ bù chī yú hé hǎixiān.
I don't eat fish or seafood.
“I Don't Eat Eggs”
我不吃鸡蛋。
Wǒ bù chī jīdàn.
I don't eat eggs.
“I Don't Eat Dairy”
我不吃牛奶和奶制品。
Wǒ bù chī niúnǎi hé nǎizhìpǐn.
I don't eat milk or dairy products.
“I Don't Eat Honey”
我不吃蜂蜜。
Wǒ bù chī fēngmì.
I don't eat honey.
Honey is easy to overlook when discussing vegan diets, especially with desserts and drinks.
Hidden Ingredients: The Words Every Vegan Traveler Should Know
The biggest advantage of a good vegan phrase card is that it identifies ingredients that may not be visible in the finished dish.
Here are the most important ones.
猪油 — Pork Lard
猪油
zhūyóu
pork lard
This is one of the most important words to know.
A vegetable dish can be completely free of visible meat and still be cooked in pork lard. Ask:
不要猪油。
Bù yào zhūyóu.
No pork lard.
For extra clarity:
这个菜用猪油炒吗？
Zhège cài yòng zhūyóu chǎo ma?
Is this dish stir-fried with pork lard?
动物油 — Animal Oil/Fat
动物油
dòngwù yóu
animal fat / animal oil
This is useful when you want to rule out more than pork specifically.
不要动物油。
Bù yào dòngwù yóu.
No animal fat.
You can also ask:
是植物油吗？
Shì zhíwù yóu ma?
Is it vegetable oil?
鸡油 — Chicken Fat
鸡油
jīyóu
chicken fat
This can appear in cooking or seasoning.
不要鸡油。
Bù yào jīyóu.
No chicken fat.
肉汤 — Meat Broth
肉汤
ròutāng
meat broth
This is particularly important for noodles, soups, dumplings, hot pot, and other dishes where the broth isn't obvious from the menu description.
不要肉汤。
Bù yào ròutāng.
No meat broth.
鸡汤 — Chicken Broth
鸡汤
jītāng
chicken broth
Ask:
这个汤是鸡汤吗？
Zhège tāng shì jītāng ma?
Is this chicken broth?
高汤 — Stock/Broth
高汤
gāotāng
stock / broth
This word deserves special attention.
A menu may simply say that a dish contains 高汤, without explaining what is in the stock. Don't assume it is vegetable broth.
Ask:
高汤是什么做的？
Gāotāng shì shénme zuò de?
What is the stock made from?
If you need a completely plant-based meal, ask whether the stock contains meat, chicken, fish, or seafood.
Watch the Seasonings, Too
Sauces and seasonings are another major source of hidden animal ingredients.
蚝油 — Oyster Sauce
蚝油
háoyóu
oyster sauce
Oyster sauce is commonly used in Chinese cooking, particularly with vegetables and stir-fries.
A dish can look entirely vegan while containing oyster sauce.
Say:
不要蚝油。
Bù yào háoyóu.
No oyster sauce.
鱼露 — Fish Sauce
鱼露
yúlù
fish sauce
This is another ingredient worth checking, particularly in dishes influenced by regional or Southeast Asian cooking.
不要鱼露。
Bù yào yúlù.
No fish sauce.
虾酱 — Shrimp Paste
虾酱
xiā jiàng
shrimp paste
This is especially important for strict vegans because the shrimp may not be visually identifiable once incorporated into a sauce or seasoning.
不要虾酱。
Bù yào xiā jiàng.
No shrimp paste.
鸡精 — Chicken Seasoning
鸡精
jījīng
chicken-flavored seasoning / chicken essence
Despite its use as a seasoning rather than a piece of chicken, this is something strict vegans may want to avoid.
Ask:
不要鸡精。
Bù yào jījīng.
No chicken seasoning.
You can also ask about animal-based flavoring more generally:
不要动物性调味料。
Bù yào dòngwùxìng tiáowèiliào.
No animal-based seasonings.
Your Complete “No Hidden Ingredients” Phrase
If you want one sentence that covers the major risks, use this:
不要肉、鱼、海鲜、蛋、奶，也不要猪油、动物油、鸡油、肉汤、鸡汤、蚝油、鱼露、虾酱和鸡精。
Bù yào ròu, yú, hǎixiān, dàn, nǎi, yě bù yào zhūyóu, dòngwù yóu, jīyóu, ròutāng, jītāng, háoyóu, yúlù, xiājiàng hé jījīng.
It means:
No meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, pork lard, animal fat, chicken fat, meat broth, chicken broth, oyster sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, or chicken seasoning.
For many restaurant situations, this is more valuable than simply knowing the Chinese word for vegan.
How to Ask “Is This Vegan?” in Chinese
A useful phrase is:
这是纯素的吗？
Zhè shì chún sù de ma?
Is this vegan?
You can also ask:
这个菜是纯素的吗？
Zhège cài shì chún sù de ma?
Is this dish vegan?
But remember: a yes-or-no question depends on the person understanding exactly what you mean by vegan.
If there is any uncertainty, follow it with your ingredient list.
For example:
这个菜是纯素的吗？不要蛋、奶、肉，也不要猪油和肉汤。
Is this dish vegan? No eggs, dairy, meat, pork lard, or meat broth.
That gives the restaurant a much clearer standard.
How to Ask What a Dish Contains
When you are unsure about a menu item, ask:
这个菜里面有什么？
Zhège cài lǐmiàn yǒu shénme?
What is in this dish?
For broth:
这个汤底是什么做的？
Zhège tāngdǐ shì shénme zuò de?
What is this soup base made from?
For cooking oil:
用什么油？
Yòng shénme yóu?
What oil do you use?
For sauces:
里面有蚝油吗？
Lǐmiàn yǒu háoyóu ma?
Does it contain oyster sauce?
These short questions are often easier to use in real life than trying to deliver a long explanation.
Ordering Vegan Food in Chinese: A Simple Conversation
Here's what a realistic restaurant exchange might look like.
You:
我是纯素食者。
I am vegan.
You:
我不吃肉、鱼、海鲜、蛋、奶和蜂蜜。
I don't eat meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, or honey.
You:
也不要猪油、动物油、鸡油、肉汤、鸡汤、蚝油、鱼露、虾酱和鸡精。
I also don't want pork lard, animal fat, chicken fat, meat broth, chicken broth, oyster sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, or chicken seasoning.
You:
可以做成纯素的吗？
Can you make it vegan?
This approach is direct without being confrontational.
A Short Version for Busy Restaurants
Sometimes a restaurant is crowded. You may not have time to explain every ingredient.
Use this shorter card:
我是纯素食者，不吃任何动物性食品。请不要放肉、鱼、海鲜、蛋、奶，也不要猪油、动物油、肉汤、鸡汤或动物性调味料。谢谢！
Translation:
I am vegan and don't eat any animal products. Please don't use meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, pork lard, animal fat, meat broth, chicken broth, or animal-based seasonings. Thank you!
Save this on your phone before traveling.
Vegan Chinese Phrases for Different Situations
Different foods create different questions. Here's how to adapt your phrase card.
Ordering Noodles
Noodles can be deceptively difficult because the noodles themselves may be plant-based while the broth or toppings are not.
Ask:
这个面是用什么汤做的？
What is the broth made from?
Then:
有没有肉汤或鸡汤？
Does it contain meat or chicken broth?
And:
可以不要肉、蛋、海鲜和动物油吗？
Can you make it without meat, eggs, seafood, or animal fat?
Ordering Dumplings
Ask what is inside:
这个饺子馅是什么？
What is the dumpling filling?
For a vegan filling:
有纯素的饺子吗？
Do you have vegan dumplings?
Also check the dipping sauce:
蘸料里面有蚝油或鱼露吗？
Does the dipping sauce contain oyster sauce or fish sauce?
Ordering Hot Pot
Hot pot requires special attention to the broth.
Ask:
有纯素的汤底吗？
Do you have a vegan soup base?
Then ask:
汤底里面有肉、鸡、鱼或海鲜吗？
Does the soup base contain meat, chicken, fish, or seafood?
Don't assume that a mushroom or vegetable-looking broth is automatically vegan.
If the restaurant offers separate pots, ask for a dedicated vegan broth to avoid ingredients from another soup base.
Ordering Stir-Fried Vegetables
This is one of the situations where 猪油 and 蚝油 matter most.
Ask:
可以只用植物油吗？
Can you use only vegetable oil?
And:
不要蚝油，也不要鸡精。
No oyster sauce or chicken seasoning.
A simple vegetable stir-fry can often be adapted successfully if the kitchen understands these requests.
Ordering Vegan in Shanghai
If you're ordering vegan in Shanghai, the same basic phrase card applies, but don't assume that a modern-looking restaurant or plant-focused menu automatically means every dish is vegan.
Shanghai has a huge range of restaurants, from traditional local cuisine to international dining. Many dishes rely on sauces, stocks, and cooking methods that aren't obvious from an English translation.
When ordering Shanghai-style food, keep your card handy and ask specifically about:
- Pork lard
- Meat stock
- Chicken stock
- Oyster sauce
- Eggs
- Seafood-based seasoning
- Animal-based cooking fats
The phrase 我是纯素食者 is useful across mainland China, not just in Shanghai.
How to Say “Please Make It Vegan”
A very practical phrase is:
请做成纯素的。
Qǐng zuò chéng chún sù de.
Please make it vegan.
You can combine it with an ingredient request:
请用植物油，不要猪油。
Please use vegetable oil, not pork lard.
Or:
请不要放肉汤、蚝油和鸡精。
Please don't add meat broth, oyster sauce, or chicken seasoning.
If a restaurant is willing to modify a dish, these phrases make the request much clearer.
What to Do When Staff Don't Understand “Vegan”
Even a well-written phrase card may not solve every situation.
If the person seems unsure, don't keep repeating the word “vegan.” Switch to concrete ingredients.
Point to the list and say:
这些都不能吃。
Zhèxiē dōu bù néng chī.
I cannot eat any of these.
Then point to individual words:
肉。 — meat
蛋。 — eggs
奶。 — dairy
猪油。 — pork lard
鸡汤。 — chicken broth
蚝油。 — oyster sauce
鱼露。 — fish sauce
Specific words are often easier to communicate than an abstract dietary label.
A Useful Trick: Ask About the Cooking Method
Sometimes the ingredients are simple, but the cooking method creates the problem.
Instead of only asking what is in the dish, ask:
这个菜怎么做的？
Zhège cài zěnme zuò de?
How is this dish prepared?
Then ask:
用植物油还是动物油？
Yòng zhíwù yóu háishì dòngwù yóu?
Do you use vegetable oil or animal fat?
This can reveal the use of lard, chicken fat, or a meat-based stock.
Common Mistakes When Ordering Vegan Food in China
Mistake 1: Only Saying “No Meat”
不要肉。
No meat.
This is a useful starting point, but it doesn't communicate veganism.
The dish may still contain egg, dairy, oyster sauce, fish sauce, chicken seasoning, or pork lard.
Mistake 2: Assuming “Vegetarian” Means Vegan
素食 does not always communicate the strict dietary definition you have in mind.
If you avoid all animal products, use 纯素 and explain the specific foods you avoid.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the Broth
Soups, noodles, dumplings, hot pot, and many saucy dishes can contain animal-derived broth.
Learn:
汤底 — soup base
高汤 — stock
肉汤 — meat broth
鸡汤 — chicken broth
Mistake 4: Forgetting Cooking Oil
Vegetables cooked in pork lard are not vegan.
Learn:
猪油 — pork lard
动物油 — animal fat
植物油 — vegetable oil
Then ask:
可以用植物油吗？
Can you use vegetable oil?
Mistake 5: Trusting the Appearance of the Dish
A plate full of mushrooms, greens, tofu, and rice can still contain animal-derived ingredients.
The important question isn't just “What can I see?”
It's “What was used to make it?”
What Vegan Foods Are Often Easier to Order?
China has an enormous variety of naturally plant-based foods, although preparation still needs to be checked.
Depending on the restaurant and region, useful categories may include:
- Plain steamed rice
- Plain noodles when prepared without animal broth or ingredients
- Stir-fried vegetables made with plant oil
- Tofu dishes without animal-based sauces
- Steamed vegetables
- Mushroom dishes
- Some vegetable dumplings
- Fresh fruit
- Simple vegetable and tofu dishes
- Rice dishes prepared without egg or meat
The safest approach is not to assume a food is vegan because its main ingredient is a plant.
Instead, verify the preparation.
Useful Chinese Words for Vegan Travelers
Keep this mini vocabulary list with your phone phrase card.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 纯素 | chún sù | vegan |
| 纯素食者 | chún sùshí zhě | vegan |
| 素食 | sùshí | vegetarian food |
| 肉 | ròu | meat |
| 猪肉 | zhūròu | pork |
| 牛肉 | niúròu | beef |
| 鸡肉 | jīròu | chicken |
| 鱼 | yú | fish |
| 海鲜 | hǎixiān | seafood |
| 鸡蛋 | jīdàn | egg |
| 牛奶 | niúnǎi | milk |
| 奶制品 | nǎizhìpǐn | dairy products |
| 蜂蜜 | fēngmì | honey |
| 猪油 | zhūyóu | pork lard |
| 动物油 | dòngwù yóu | animal fat |
| 鸡油 | jīyóu | chicken fat |
| 植物油 | zhíwù yóu | vegetable oil |
| 肉汤 | ròutāng | meat broth |
| 鸡汤 | jītāng | chicken broth |
| 高汤 | gāotāng | stock |
| 汤底 | tāngdǐ | soup base |
| 蚝油 | háoyóu | oyster sauce |
| 鱼露 | yúlù | fish sauce |
| 虾酱 | xiā jiàng | shrimp paste |
| 鸡精 | jījīng | chicken seasoning |
| 调味料 | tiáowèiliào | seasoning |
| 植物性 | zhíwùxìng | plant-based |
The One-Minute Vegan Restaurant Checklist
Before eating, run through this quick checklist.
1. Explain that you're vegan
我是纯素食者。
2. Rule out obvious animal foods
No meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, or honey.
3. Ask about cooking fat
用什么油？
If needed:
可以用植物油吗？
4. Ask about broth
汤底是什么做的？
Check for meat, chicken, fish, and seafood.
5. Check sauces
Ask about:
- 蚝油
- 鱼露
- 虾酱
- 鸡精
6. Confirm the final dish
这个菜确定是纯素的吗？
Is this dish definitely vegan?
This six-step routine is simple enough to use repeatedly while traveling.
Should You Carry a Vegan Restaurant Card?
Yes, especially if your Mandarin is limited.
A written card has several advantages. You don't have to remember every pronunciation. You can show the same explanation to different restaurant staff. And it gives you a way to communicate details that are difficult to explain verbally.
For a serious food allergy, dietary restriction, or medical condition, a written card should not replace appropriate medical planning or professional translation. But for ordinary vegan dining, a concise Mandarin card can make restaurant communication much easier.
If you want to keep your plant-based lifestyle visible beyond the dinner table, The Dharma Store also creates vegan-themed apparel inspired by compassion, mindfulness, and ethical living.
Printable Vegan Phrase Card for China
Save or screenshot this section before your trip.
我是纯素食者
我是纯素食者。
I am vegan.我不吃任何肉类、鱼、海鲜、蛋、奶和蜂蜜。
I do not eat meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, or honey.不要猪油、动物油或鸡油。
No pork lard, animal fat, or chicken fat.不要肉汤、鸡汤或其他动物汤底。
No meat broth, chicken broth, or animal-based soup stock.不要蚝油、鱼露、虾酱或鸡精。
No oyster sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, or chicken seasoning.请用植物油。
Please use vegetable oil.请确认这些东西都没有使用。
Please confirm that none of these ingredients were used.谢谢！
Thank you!
This is the practical version of a vegan Chinese phrase card: short enough to show at a restaurant, but detailed enough to cover the most common hidden-ingredient problems.
FAQ: Ordering Vegan Food in China
How do you say “vegan” in Chinese?
The most direct phrase is 纯素 (chún sù), meaning vegan or strictly plant-based. To say “I am vegan,” use 我是纯素食者 (Wǒ shì chún sùshí zhě).
For restaurant ordering, explain the specific foods and ingredients you avoid rather than relying only on the word “vegan.”
What does “wo chi su” mean?
我吃素 (Wǒ chī sù) means “I eat vegetarian food” or “I don't eat meat.” It is useful, but it does not necessarily communicate a strict vegan diet.
If you do not eat eggs, dairy, honey, or animal-derived cooking ingredients, 纯素 is a clearer term.
How do you ask for vegan food in Mandarin?
Say:
有纯素的吗？
Yǒu chún sù de ma?
This means “Do you have anything vegan?”
You can then specify:
不要肉、蛋、奶，也不要猪油和肉汤。
That means “No meat, eggs, dairy, pork lard, or meat broth.”
How do you say “no pork lard” in Chinese?
Say:
不要猪油。
Bù yào zhūyóu.
It means “No pork lard.”
For greater clarity, ask whether the dish was cooked with animal fat and request 植物油, or vegetable oil.
Is Chinese vegetarian food always vegan?
No. Vegetarian food may contain eggs, dairy, honey, oyster sauce, or other animal-derived ingredients. Cooking fat and broth are also important considerations.
If you are vegan, ask specifically about hidden ingredients rather than assuming that a dish labeled vegetarian is vegan.
What should vegans ask about at Chinese restaurants?
The most important questions involve meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, honey, pork lard, animal fat, meat or chicken broth, soup base, oyster sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, and animal-based seasonings.
A good restaurant phrase card should cover both visible ingredients and ingredients used during cooking.
Your Best Strategy for Vegan Dining in China
Learning how to say vegan in Chinese gives you a starting point, but the real skill is being specific.
Say 纯素.
Then explain what that means.
Don't stop at meat. Ask about broth. Ask about lard. Ask about cooking oil. Ask about sauces and seasoning. When a dish contains 高汤, find out what that stock is made from. When a vegetable dish looks safe, check whether it was cooked with 猪油 or 鸡油.
The goal isn't to memorize hundreds of Chinese food words. It's to carry a small set of high-value phrases that solve the situations you're most likely to encounter.
Save the phrase card on your phone. Screenshot the ingredient vocabulary. And when you're unsure, ask one more question before taking the first bite.
A few Mandarin phrases can turn vegan dining from a guessing game into a much more manageable part of traveling through China.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding dietary or health concerns.