người ăn chay
[ŋɨəj˨˩ ʔan˧˧ t͡ɕaj˧˧]word by word
The English phrase "vegetarian" can be translated into Vietnamese as người ăn chay.
người ăn chay is a noun used to describe a person who does not eat any animal flesh. Related terms include the adjective chay, which describes products that use non-meat substitutes and the adjective ăn chay, which relates to the type of diet a vegetarian follows. To describe the act of following a vegetarian diet, you use the verb phrase ăn chay. If you want to specifically refer to vegetarian food or a vegetarian dish, the phrase món chay is used.
Meaning: person who does not eat any animal flesh (noun)
Which one should you use?
While người ăn chay refers to the person themselves, ăn chay is a verb phrase used to describe the act of eating vegetarian. In Vietnamese, the phrase ăn chay can refer to a permanent lifestyle or a temporary practice, such as eating vegetarian during a specific religious period.
Related words
Did you know?
- Some strict practitioners of ăn chay avoid the 'five pungent spices' including garlic and onions because they are believed to excite the senses.
- Vietnamese Buddhist traditions often include 'mock meats' in món chay that are meticulously crafted to look and taste like pork or fish.
- In Vietnam, ăn chay is often practiced temporarily by non-vegetarians on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month for spiritual cleansing.
Examples in context
- Tom còn là một người ăn chay.Tom is also a vegetarian.This sentence shows how to identify someone as a người ăn chay.Tatoeba #5754878 by yippe, translation #5054923 by CK
- Tôi ăn chay, không ăn thịt, không ăn hải sản.I am a vegetarian, I don't eat meat, and I don't eat seafood.
- Tôi là một người ăn chay.I am a vegetarian.
- Cô ấy là một người ăn chay lâu năm.She is a long-time vegetarian.
Example conversation
Minh and Lan are choosing a restaurant for lunch.
- MinhLan có ăn thịt không?Does Lan eat meat?
- LanKhông, mình là người ăn chay.No, I am a vegetarian.
- MinhVậy mình đi ăn nhà hàng chay nhé?Then shall we go to a vegetarian restaurant?
- LanÝ kiến hay đó, Minh!That is a great idea, Minh!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vegetarian” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (người, ăn, chay) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
