食齋
sik6 zaai1
The Cantonese phrase for vegetarian is 食齋 (sik6 zaai1).
In Cantonese, 食齋 is often used as a verb phrase rather than a noun. Instead of saying "I am a vegetarian", one often says "I eat vegetarian" (我食齋).
Meaning: person who does not eat any animal flesh (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the verb 食 (sik6), meaning "to eat" and the noun 齋 (zaai1), meaning "vegetarian/pure/religious".
How does it change in a sentence?
While 食齋 is commonly used as a verb phrase to describe the habit, adding 人士 (jan4 si6) makes it a more formal noun for "vegetarian person".
How do you pronounce it?
sik6 zaai1
When do people say it?
The term 齋 (zaai1) carries a connotation of religious purity, often associated with Buddhist or Taoist dietary practices.
Did you know?
- The word 齋 (zaai1) also refers to a period of fasting or religious abstinence from sex and alcohol, not just food.
- Strict vegetarians in Cantonese culture may avoid the 'five pungent spices', including garlic, onions, chives, leeks and shallots.
- A person who eats only plants for health reasons rather than religious ones might be called a 素食者 (sou3 sik6 ze2), which mirrors the Mandarin term.
Examples in context
- 我係食齋嘅。I am a vegetarian.This sentence is useful for stating that you are a vegetarian using 食齋.Tatoeba #459923 by nickyeow, translation #367935 by rike
- 我食齋嘅，所以如果可以嘅話我唔想食肉。I'm a vegetarian, so I'd rather not have meat, if that's okay.This sentence is useful for explaining your vegetarian habit and a preference to avoid meat using 食齋.Tatoeba #750772 by kaenif, translation #34018 by CK
- 佢係食齋嘅。keoi5 hai6 sik6 zaai1 ge3.He is a vegetarian.
Example conversation
Ka Ming and Ka Yan are deciding what to order for dinner.
- 家明 Ka Ming你想食乜嘢？我請你。nei5 soeng2 sik6 mat1 je5? ngo5 cing2 nei5.What do you want to eat? My treat.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我而家係食齋，唔食肉。ngo5 ji4 gaan1 hai6 sik6 zaai1, m4 sik6 juk6.I am a vegetarian now, I don't eat meat.
- 家明 Ka Ming係咩？咁我哋去食素食啦。hai6 me1? gaan3 ngo5 dei6 heoi3 sik6 sou3 sik6 laa1.Really? Then let's go eat vegetarian food.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好啊，多謝你，家明。hou2 aa3, do1 ze6 nei5, gaa1 ming4.Okay, thank you, Ka Ming.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
