fan1 coi3葷菜荤菜

Jyutpingfan1 coi3

Yalefān choi

名詞

Definition

Non-vegetarian food, now commonly covering meat and eggs, but originally referring to the five pungent plants banned in Buddhist diets.

non-vegetarian food, such as meat and eggs
historicalthe five pungent plants banned in Buddhism

neutralfoodpeople

How it's used

Modern usage has shifted significantly from the original Buddhist definition involving pungent plants to simply meaning meat or fish dishes. When ordering food, people usually just say 冇肉 or 唔食肉 instead of using this term, as it sounds slightly formal or old-fashioned in casual dining contexts. It is most frequently encountered in discussions about dietary restrictions or religious observance.

Measure word

dip2碟díp

Examples

le1呢gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳jau5有mou5冇fan1葷coi3菜tai4提gung1供aa4呀？

Does this restaurant provide any non-vegetarian dishes?

keoi5佢sik6食zo2咗hou2好do1多nin4年sou3素，jyun4完cyun4全m4唔dim6掂fan1葷coi3菜。

He has been a vegetarian for many years and does not touch any meat dishes at all.

Common phrases

hoi1開fan1葷

to break one's vegetarian diet

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 腥味, which refers to the fishy or raw smell of meat rather than the category of food itself. Using 葷菜 to describe a smell is incorrect.