荤菜

葷菜

hūncài

noun #60,569

Measure Word

一道荤菜 dào

Meanings

1 meat dish
2 non-vegetarian dish

Characters

meat / non-vegetarian

dish / vegetable

Examples

这桌菜有三个荤菜，两个素菜。

Zhè zhuō cài yǒu sān gè hūncài, liǎng gè sùcài.

This table has three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

我不太爱吃荤菜。

Wǒ bú tài ài chī hūncài.

I don't really like meat dishes.

荤菜素菜搭配着吃更健康。

Hūncài sùcài dāpèi zhe chī gèng jiànkāng.

Alternating meat and vegetable dishes is healthier.

Tips

culture

In Buddhist usage 荤 originally meant strong-smelling plants (onion, garlic, leek) banned to monks; in everyday Chinese today it simply contrasts with 素 (vegetarian) and refers to meat/fish.

Stroke Order

荤 hūn

菜 cài