纯素
chún sù
In Chinese, the English word 'vegan' is translated as 纯素 (chún sù).
纯素 is used to describe someone who follows a vegan lifestyle or to describe things relating to veganism. When you want to describe a specific vegan diet or vegan food, you use the term 纯素食 (chún sù shí).
Meaning: supporter of veganism (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 纯素 is composed of 纯 meaning 'pure' and 素 meaning 'vegetarian' or 'plain', literally translating to 'pure vegetarian'.
Which one should you use?
While 纯素 specifically implies veganism (avoiding all animal products), the broader term 素食者 (sù shí zhě) refers to any vegetarian. To specifically refer to a person who is a vegan, you typically add 食者 (eater/one who eats) to the end of 纯素 to form 纯素食者.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
chún sù
Did you know?
- The word 素 (sù) used in 纯素 originally referred to 'unadorned' or 'plain' textiles and flavors in ancient texts, rather than specifically diet.
- The character 素 (sù) is also used in the word for 'element' in chemistry and physics, 元素 (yuán sù), because it refers to a basic or fundamental part.
- Historically, the concept of a 'vegetarian' in China was often tied to Buddhist practices, where the term 素食 was linked to spiritual cleanliness.
Examples in context
- 我是纯素食者。I am vegan.This sentence is useful for stating that you are a vegan using 纯素.Tatoeba #1335244 by Saney, translation #367945 by rike
- 他是纯素食者。He's vegan.This sentence is useful for stating that he is a vegan using 纯素.Tatoeba #10342284 by iiujik, translation #8476065 by CH
- 汤姆是纯素食者。Tom is a vegan.This sentence is useful for stating that Tom is a vegan using 纯素.Tatoeba #10314298 by iiujik, translation #6678388 by Eccles17
- 你们有没有纯素食的选择？(Nǐmen yǒu méiyǒu chún sùshí de xuǎnzé?)Do you have any vegan options?
- 我不吃肉、乳制品或蛋。 (Wǒ bù chī ròu, rǔzhìpǐn huò dàn.)I don't eat meat, dairy, or eggs.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yuting and Zhiqiang are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 雨婷 Yuting我们要去那家餐厅吗？Wǒmen yào qù nà jiā cāntīng ma?Are we going to that restaurant?
- 志强 Zhiqiang不行，我是纯素的。Bùxíng, wǒ shì chún sù de.No, I am vegan.
- 雨婷 Yuting那我们找一家纯素餐厅吧。Nà wǒmen zhǎo yī jiā chún sù cāntīng ba.Then let's find a vegan restaurant.
- 志强 Zhiqiang太好了，谢谢你，雨婷。Tài hǎo le, xièxiè nǐ, Yǔtíng.Great, thank you, Yuting.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
