tôi ăn chay
[toj˧˧ ʔan˧˧ t͡ɕaj˧˧]word by word
In Vietnamese, "I am vegetarian" is expressed as tôi ăn chay.
The phrase ăn chay is used to describe both a dietary lifestyle and religious practices, such as following a vegetarian diet during Buddhist holy days.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ăn chay literally means "to eat vegetarian" or "to eat plant-based".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase tôi ăn chay, Vietnamese does not use a "to be" verb (equivalent to "am" in English) to link the subject to the verb phrase. The phrase literally translates to "I eat vegetarian".
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Examples in context
- Tôi là người ăn chay, có món ăn nào không chứa thịt không?I am vegetarian, do you have any dishes without meat?
- Mình ăn chay, có bánh tráng nào không có thịt không?I am vegetarian, do you have any rice paper rolls without meat?
- Tôi là người ăn chay, tôi không ăn thịtI am vegetarian, I don't eat meat
- Tôi ăn chay.I am vegetarian.
- Vì tôi ăn chay nên tôi không ăn thịt.Because I am vegetarian, I do not eat meat.
- Hiện tại tôi ăn chay.Currently, I am vegetarian.
Example conversation
At a restaurant, choosing a dish from the menu.
- NamBạn có muốn ăn thịt không?Do you want to eat meat?
- MaiKhông, tôi ăn chay.No, I am vegetarian.
- NamVậy để tôi gọi món chay cho bạn.Then let me order the vegetarian dish for you.
- MaiCảm ơn Nam nhé.Thank you, Nam.
