Key Nutrition & Diet Words You Need to Know
If you’re living in or traveling around China, understanding food vocabulary can make your life much easier.
From reading nutrition facts labels to following your diet routine, these key terms will help you shop, order food, and stay healthy while learning Chinese 🍴
Nutrition Facts Label
01. Macronutrients
When you buy snacks, drinks, or protein powder in China, check the 营养成分表 (yíngyǎng chéngfèn biǎo), or nutrition facts label. Look at:
蛋白质
dànbáizhì
protein
dànbáizhì
protein
脂肪
zhīfáng
fat
zhīfáng
fat
碳水
tànshuǐ
carbohydrates
tànshuǐ
carbohydrates
02. Calories
For calories, you can use 千卡 (qiānkǎ), which literally means “kilocalories.”
千卡
qiānkǎ
calories, kilocalories
qiānkǎ
calories, kilocalories
NOTE
Most food labels in China list energy in kilojoules (kJ) rather than calories, where 1 calorie (kcal) is roughly equal to 4.18 kJ.
千焦
qiānjiāo
kilojoule
qiānjiāo
kilojoule
CONVERSION TIP
To convert kJ to kcal, simply divide by 4.18. For example, if a food label shows 836 kJ, you would divide by 4.18 to get 200 kcal.
🍏 836 kJ / 4.18 ≈ 200 kcal
Dietary Restrictions & Special Diets
Food restrictions can be cultural, religious, medical, or personal. Here are some common ones you might hear about in China and worldwide:
饮食限制
yǐnshí xiànzhì
dietary restrictions
yǐnshí xiànzhì
dietary restrictions
- Halal (清真饮食, qīngzhēn yǐnshí) – food prepared according to Islamic rules. No pork (猪肉, zhūròu) and no alcohol (酒, jiǔ).
- Kosher (犹太教饮食, yóutàijiào yǐnshí) – food prepared according to Jewish dietary laws.
- Lactose intolerance (乳糖不耐受, rǔtáng búnàishòu) – many Chinese people have trouble digesting dairy, so you’ll often see 无乳糖牛奶 (wú rǔtáng niúnǎi) = lactose-free milk.
- Nut allergy (坚果过敏, jiānguǒ guòmǐn) – some people can’t eat peanuts (花生, huāshēng) or tree nuts. In China, peanuts are common, so always check labels.
- Gluten sensitivity (麸质不耐受, fūzhìn búnàishòu) – if you can’t eat foods made with wheat (小麦, xiǎomài), look for 无麸质 (wú fūzhì) = gluten-free on packaging.
- Shellfish allergy (海鲜过敏, hǎixiān guòmǐn) – if you’re allergic to shrimp, crab, or lobster, be extra careful when eating in coastal China, where seafood is a staple in many dishes.
Types of Diets
Different diets serve different goals, from weight management to cultural or ethical choices. Here are some well-known ones with their Chinese names:
饮食
yǐnshí
diet
yǐnshí
diet
- 生酮饮食 (shēngtóng yǐnshí) – keto diet: low-carb, high-fat, burns fat for energy.
- 间歇性断食 (jiànxiēxìng duànshí) – intermittent fasting: cycles between eating & fasting.
- 地中海饮食 (dìzhōnghǎi yǐnshí) – Mediterranean diet: veggies, olive oil, fish, grains.
- 原始人饮食 (yuánshǐrén yǐnshí) – Paleo diet: meat, nuts, fruits, no processed foods.
- 纯素饮食 (chún sù yǐnshí) – vegan diet: 100% plant-based, no animal products.
- 素食 (sùshí) – vegetarian diet: plant-based, may include dairy/eggs.
- 低脂饮食 (dī zhī yǐnshí) – low-fat diet: limits fried or fatty foods.
- 低碳水饮食 (dī tànshuǐ yǐnshí) – low-carb diet: cuts rice, noodles, bread, sugar.
QUICK TIP
When in China, if you have food restrictions, it’s useful to say:
我不能吃 ······
Wǒ bù néng chī …
I cannot eat …
Wǒ bù néng chī …
I cannot eat …
