开洋荤

開洋葷

kāiyánghūn

idiom

Meanings

1 to experience something foreign or novel for the first time
2 to have one's first taste of Western food (or any exotic new thing)

Characters

foreign; Western

Examples

这次去法国，算是开了洋荤，吃了真正的鹅肝。

Zhè cì qù Fǎguó, suàn shì kāi le yánghūn, chī le zhēnzhèng de é gān.

This trip to France was my first real taste of something foreign — I got to try real foie gras.

他第一次坐头等舱，开了个大洋荤。

Tā dì yī cì zuò tóuděng cāng, kāi le ge dà yánghūn.

It was his first time in first class — a serious first taste of luxury.

Tips

history

Originally 洋荤 referred to Western-style meat dishes (鸡鸭鱼肉). Now the phrase covers any first-time exposure to something foreign, novel, or fancier than usual.

Stroke Order

开 kāi

洋 yáng

荤 hūn