不要肉
bù yào ròu
In Chinese, the phrase for "no meat" is 不要肉 (bù yào ròu).
不要肉 is used as a direct way to request that meat be excluded from a food order.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 不 (not), 要 (want) and 肉 (meat), which literally translates to "don't want meat".
Which one should you use?
While 不要肉 is a direct request, you might also use 别放肉 to say "don't put meat". To express your dietary lifestyle, you can use the phrase 我吃素 to mean "I eat vegetarian food".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 無肉 is used to mean "no meat". In Taiwan, people use the term 吃素食 to convey a preference for a vegetarian meal.
How does it change in a sentence?
不要肉 can be used as a standalone command or as part of a larger sentence, such as Wǒ bù yào ròu (I don't want meat).
How do you pronounce it?
bù yào ròu
Did you know?
- If you are in a Buddhist temple or a specialized vegetarian restaurant, you might encounter the term 斋 (zhāi). This refers to a much stricter, ritualized form of 'no meat' that excludes even pungent vegetables like garlic and onions.
- In many Chinese-speaking regions, if you only say 不要肉, a server might still include lard or meat-based broths in your dish. To be truly safe, many people specify 不要荤 (no non-vegetarian ingredients) to cover all hidden animal fats.
- The word 肉 (ròu) can be used colloquially in internet slang to describe something 'meaty' or substantial, like a detailed piece of information.
Examples in context
- 这个菜不要肉。Zhège cài búyào ròu.This dish should have no meat.
- 请问，我可以不要肉吗？Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ búyào ròu ma?Excuse me, can I have no meat?
- 我要一个不要肉的面。Wǒ yào yīgè búyào ròu de miàn.I want a noodle dish with no meat.
Example conversation
Two friends are ordering food at a restaurant.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，你想点什么菜？Xiǎowén, nǐ xiǎng diǎn shénme cài?Xiaowen, what dish do you want to order?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我想点这个，但是不要肉。Wǒ xiǎng diǎn zhège, dànshì bùyào ròu.I want to order this one, but no meat.
- 伟 Wei好的，那我帮你告诉服务员。Hǎo de, nà wǒ bāng nǐ gàosù fúwùyuán.Okay, I will tell the waiter for you.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen太感谢你了，伟。Tài gǎnxiè nǐ le, Wěi.Thank you so much, Wei.
