吃素

chīsù

verb #16,325

Meanings

1 to be a vegetarian
2 to eat vegetarian food

Characters

plain; vegetarian; white

Examples

HSK 1

我今天想吃素。

Wǒ jīntiān xiǎng chīsù.

I want to eat vegetarian today.

HSK 2

她吃素已经三年了。

Tā chīsù yǐjīng sān nián le.

She's been vegetarian for three years.

Tips

culture

In China, 吃素 is traditionally linked to Buddhism - monks and devout Buddhists eat vegetarian. The phrase 不是吃素的 (literally 'not a vegetarian') is an idiom meaning 'not to be trifled with' - as in, this person is tough and fights back.

Stroke Order

吃 chī

素 sù