thuần chay
[tʰwən˨˩ t͡ɕaj˧˧]
In Vietnamese, the English phrase "vegan" is expressed as thuần chay.
You can use it to describe a person by adding the noun for person before it, as in người thuần chay (a vegan). To describe the lifestyle or concept of a vegan diet, use the phrase chế độ ăn thuần chay. Other useful terms include Thực đơn chay (Vegan menu), Món chay (Vegan food/dish) and Nguyên liệu thực phẩm chay (Vegan ingredients).
Meaning: supporter of veganism (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term thuần chay is composed of thuần, meaning pure or purely and chay, meaning vegetarian or plant-based.
Which one should you use?
While the general term for eating vegetarian is ăn chay, the specific phrase ăn thuần chay is used when you want to denote a strictly vegan diet.
Did you know?
- Many Vietnamese people practice ăn chay only on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month for spiritual reasons, regardless of whether they are fully thuần chay.
- The word chay is actually a phonetic evolution of the Sino-Vietnamese word trai, which relates to the concept of religious purification.
- In Vietnam, you may see 'chay' restaurants that are not thuần chay because they still use fish sauce or eggs, which are often accepted in local vegetarianism.
Examples in context
- ăn thuần chayTo eat veganThis sentence shows how to use the phrase in the context of eating: ăn thuần chay.
- Em làm một món chay ngon tuyệt cho chị đi.I'll make a delicious vegan dish for you.
- Anh ấy là một người thuần chay chính gốc.He is a genuine vegan.
Example conversation
At a restaurant, Chi and Nam are looking at the menu.
- ChiNam, bạn có phải là người thuần chay không?Nam, are you a vegan?
- NamĐúng vậy, tôi là người thuần chay.Yes, I am a vegan.
- ChiVậy chúng ta nên chọn món không có trứng.Then we should choose dishes without eggs.
- NamÝ hay đó, Chi.That's a good idea, Chi.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry thuần chay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chay, thuần, thuần chay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
