Dietary & Allergies

1. 我食素。

   ngo5 sik6 sou3.

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   Basic vegetarian declaration

   Grammar Note

   "sik6 sou3" = "eat vegetarian"

2. 我係純素食者，任何動物性食品都唔食。

   ngo5 hai6 seon4 sou3 sik6 ze2, jam6 ho4 dung6 mat6 sing3 sik6 ban2 dou1 m4 sik6.

   I'm vegan; I don't eat any animal products.

   Usage

   Clarify avoidance of dairy/eggs

   Grammar Note

   "m4" is the Cantonese negative

3. 我對堅果敏感。

   ngo5 deoi3 gin1 gwo2 man5 gam2.

   I'm allergic to nuts.

   Usage

   Declare nut allergy

   Grammar Note

   "deoi3 ... man5 gam2" = "allergic to"

4. 你哋有冇無麩質嘅餐單？

   nei5 dei6 jau5 mou5 mou4 fu1 zat1 ge3 caan1 daan1?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   For celiac/gluten intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "jau5 mou5" forms A-not-A questions

5. 我食清真，唔食豬肉。

   ngo5 sik6 cing1 zan1, m4 sik6 zyu1 juk6.

   I eat halal; I don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Explain Muslim dietary rules

   Grammar Note

   "清真" refers to halal in Chinese-speaking world

6. 我消化唔到乳糖。

   ngo5 siu1 faa3 m4 dou3 jyu5 tong4.

   I can't digest lactose.

   Usage

   Explain lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "verb + m4 dou3" = "cannot ~"

7. 我對海鮮敏感。

   ngo5 deoi3 hoi2 sin1 man5 gam2.

   I'm allergic to seafood.

   Usage

   Declare seafood allergy

   Grammar Note

   "hoi2 sin1" = "sea + fresh"

8. 呢個餸有啲乜嘢？

   ni1 go3 sung3 jau5 di1 mat1 je5?

   What's in this dish?

   Usage

   Basic question to check ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "ni1 go3" = "this"

9. 可唔可以唔落洋蔥？

   ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 m4 lok6 joeng4 cung1?

   Can you make it without onion?

   Usage

   Ask to omit ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "ho2 m4 ho2 ji5" = "can / cannot" question

10. 我對雞蛋敏感。

    ngo5 deoi3 gai1 daan2 man5 gam2.

    I'm allergic to eggs.

    Usage

    Avoid egg-containing dishes

    Grammar Note

    "gai1 daan2" = "chicken + egg"

11. 你哋有冇致敏原清單？

    nei5 dei6 jau5 mou5 zi3 man5 jyun4 cing1 daan1?

    Do you have an allergen list?

    Usage

    Request allergen list

    Grammar Note

    "zi3" = "cause"

12. 呢個係會危及生命嘅敏感。

    ni1 go3 hai6 wui5 ngai4 kap6 sang1 ming6 ge3 man5 gam2.

    This is a life-threatening allergy.

    Usage

    Warn of severity

    Grammar Note

    "ge3" is the attributive linker

13. 呢個有冇油或者香料？

    ni1 go3 jau5 mou5 jau4 waak6 ze2 hoeng1 liu2?

    Does this contain oil or spices?

    Usage

    Check for oil/spices

    Grammar Note

    "waak6 ze2" = "or"

14. 會唔會同其他食物交叉污染？

    wui5 m4 wui5 tung4 kei4 taa1 sik6 mat6 gaau1 caa1 wu1 jim5?

    Could there be cross-contamination?

    Usage

    Ask about cross-contamination

    Grammar Note

    "wui5 m4 wui5" = "will/will not" question

15. 多謝你體諒。

    do1 ze6 nei5 tai2 loeng6.

    Thank you for your consideration.

    Usage

    Thank for accommodating

    Grammar Note

    "do1 ze6" is the formal Cantonese "thank you"

16. 我食唔到肉。

    ngo5 sik6 m4 dou3 juk6.

    I can't eat meat.

    Usage

    State you can't eat meat

    Grammar Note

    "Verb + m4 dou3" = negative potential

17. 豬肉

    zyu1 juk6

    Pork

    Usage

    Point at it to ask whether a dish contains pork — also the key word for religious restrictions

18. 牛肉

    ngau4 juk6

    Beef

    Usage

    Point at it to check for beef, e.g. for religious reasons

19. 雞肉

    gai1 juk6

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point at it to confirm which meat is in a dish

20. 魚

    jyu4

    Fish

    Usage

    For a fish allergy, or to say you are avoiding fish

21. 雞蛋

    gai1 daan2

    Egg

    Usage

    To check for egg in batter or as a binder

22. 奶類製品

    naai5 leoi6 zai3 ban2

    Dairy

    Usage

    For lactose intolerance or a milk allergy; this wording appears on HK food labels

23. 花生

    faa1 sang1

    Peanut

    Usage

    Anaphylaxis risk — check sauces and oils, not just visible nuts

24. 果仁

    gwo2 jan4

    Tree nuts

    Usage

    HK says "gwo2 jan4" for tree nuts; peanuts are a separate word ("faa1 sang1") — show both if you react to either

25. 甲殼類海鮮

    gaap3 hok3 leoi6 hoi2 sin1

    Shellfish / crustaceans

    Usage

    Covers shrimp, crab, and mantis shrimp — a different allergy from fish, so show it separately

26. 小麥

    siu2 mak6

    Wheat

    Usage

    For gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy

27. 大豆

    daai6 dau6

    Soy

    Usage

    Present in soy sauce, tofu, and soy milk — hard to avoid in HK cooking, so always check

28. 芝麻

    zi1 maa4

    Sesame

    Usage

    Also in sesame oil and paste — it can be present with no visible seeds

29. 酒精

    zau2 zing1

    Alcohol

    Usage

    For avoiding alcohol on religious or medical grounds; many HK dishes are cooked with rice wine

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