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Unit 7 · Food Lesson 39 7 min Premium in the app

Spice levels, allergies and diets in Chinese

Explain allergies, dietary restrictions, spiciness level, vegetarian needs, and foods you cannot eat. A tiny noodle shop in Chongqing, home of the chili. Say what you can't eat before you order.

不辣

Key phrases

The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.

  • 这个菜辣吗？

    Zhège cài là ma?

    Is this dish spicy?

    • 这个Zhège
    • 菜cài
    • 辣là
    • 吗ma

  • 我不能吃辣。

    Wǒ bù néng chī là.

    I cannot eat spicy food.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 不bù
    • 能néng
    • 吃chī
    • 辣là

  • 请少放辣椒。

    Qǐng shǎo fàng làjiāo.

    Please use less chili.

    • 请Qǐng
    • 少shǎo
    • 放fàng
    • 辣椒làjiāo

  • 我对花生过敏。

    Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn.

    I am allergic to peanuts.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 对duì
    • 花生huāshēng
    • 过敏guòmǐn

  • 这个菜里面有花生吗？

    Zhège cài lǐmiàn yǒu huāshēng ma?

    Does this dish contain peanuts?

    • 这个Zhège
    • 菜cài
    • 里面lǐmiàn
    • 有yǒu
    • 花生huāshēng
    • 吗ma

  • 请不要放香菜。

    Qǐng búyào fàng xiāngcài.

    Please do not add cilantro.

    • 请Qǐng
    • 不要búyào
    • 放fàng
    • 香菜xiāngcài

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 请做不辣的。

    Qǐng zuò bú là de.

    Please make it not spicy.

  • 请不要放辣椒。

    Qǐng búyào fàng làjiāo.

    Please do not add chili.

  • 我要微辣。

    Wǒ yào wēilà.

    I would like it mildly spicy.

  • 我要中辣。

    Wǒ yào zhōnglà.

    I would like it medium spicy.

  • 不要太辣。

    Búyào tài là.

    Not too spicy, please.

  • 我对海鲜过敏。

    Wǒ duì hǎixiān guòmǐn.

    I am allergic to seafood.

  • 我对坚果过敏。

    Wǒ duì jiānguǒ guòmǐn.

    I am allergic to nuts.

  • 我对牛奶过敏。

    Wǒ duì niúnǎi guòmǐn.

    I am allergic to milk.

  • 我对鸡蛋过敏。

    Wǒ duì jīdàn guòmǐn.

    I am allergic to eggs.

  • 这个菜里面有海鲜吗？

    Zhège cài lǐmiàn yǒu hǎixiān ma?

    Does this dish contain seafood?

  • 我不吃猪肉。

    Wǒ bù chī zhūròu.

    I do not eat pork.

  • 我不吃牛肉。

    Wǒ bù chī niúròu.

    I do not eat beef.

  • 我是素食者。

    Wǒ shì sùshí zhě.

    I am vegetarian.

  • 有素食的菜吗？

    Yǒu sùshí de cài ma?

    Do you have vegetarian dishes?

  • 请确认这个菜没有这些食材。

    Qǐng quèrèn zhège cài méiyǒu zhèxiē shícái.

    Please confirm that this dish does not contain these ingredients.

  • 这个对我很重要。

    Zhège duì wǒ hěn zhòngyào.

    This is very important to me.

  • 谢谢您的帮助。

    Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.

    Thank you for your help.

What you’ll hear, and how to answer

Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.

  1. Staff

    我们的面都是辣的。

    Wǒmen de miàn dōu shì là de.

    All our noodles are spicy.

    You

    请少放辣椒。

    Qǐng shǎo fàng làjiāo.

    Please use less chili.

  2. Staff

    香菜也不要吗？

    Xiāngcài yě bú yào ma?

    No cilantro either?

    You

    请不要放香菜。

    Qǐng búyào fàng xiāngcài.

    Please do not add cilantro.

Play the scene

A tiny noodle shop in Chongqing, home of the chili. Say what you can't eat before you order.

重庆·小面馆 · A noodle shop, Chongqing

  1. Staff

    要辣的吗？

    Yào là de ma?

    Do you want it spicy?

  2. You

    我不能吃辣。

    Wǒ bù néng chī là.

    I cannot eat spicy food.

  3. Staff

    好的，不辣。还有别的吗？

    Hǎo de, bú là. Hái yǒu bié de ma?

    OK, not spicy. Anything else?

  4. You

    我对花生过敏。

    Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn.

    I am allergic to peanuts.

  5. Staff

    有花生。可以不放。

    Yǒu huāshēng. Kěyǐ bú fàng.

    It has peanuts. We can leave them out.

  6. You

    这个对我很重要。

    Zhège duì wǒ hěn zhòngyào.

    This is very important to me.

  7. Staff

    香菜也不要吗？

    Xiāngcài yě bú yào ma?

    No cilantro either?

  8. You

    请不要放香菜。

    Qǐng búyào fàng xiāngcài.

    Please do not add cilantro.

Culture tip

Say the allergy clearly

Use 我对……过敏. For example: 我对花生过敏. Say it before ordering, not after the dish arrives.

Which phrase means “I am allergic to peanuts”?

Show the answer

我对花生过敏。 — I am allergic to peanuts.

Go deeper

Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.

Key Terms

辣 Spicy. Chinese food can range from not spicy to very spicy, so always confirm if you are sensitive to chili.

这个菜辣吗？ Zhège cài là ma? Is this dish spicy?

不辣 Not spicy. Use this when you want no chili or no spicy flavor.

请做不辣的。 Qǐng zuò bú là de. Please make it not spicy.

微辣 Mildly spicy. It means a little spicy, but the actual level may still vary by restaurant.

我要微辣。 Wǒ yào wēilà. I would like it mildly spicy.

过敏 Allergy. Use 我对……过敏 to tell staff you are allergic to something.

我对花生过敏。 Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn. I am allergic to peanuts.

食材 Ingredients used in a dish. This is important for allergies, religious dietary needs, or personal restrictions.

请确认这个菜没有这些食材。 Qǐng quèrèn zhège cài méiyǒu zhèxiē shícái. Please confirm that this dish does not contain these ingredients.

素食者 Vegetarian. In China, vegetarian dishes may still sometimes use animal-based broth or seasoning, so confirm clearly if needed.

我是素食者。 Wǒ shì sùshí zhě. I am vegetarian.

Spiciness Guide

Not spicy

Use 请做不辣的 or 请不要放辣椒 if you want no chili. For very sensitive travelers, say both.

Less chili

Use 请少放辣椒 when you can accept some chili but want the dish less spicy.

Mild spicy

微辣 usually means mild spicy, but some regional cuisines may still feel spicy to visitors.

Medium spicy

中辣 means medium spicy. It may be too spicy if you are not used to chili.

Allergy Safety Checklist

Say the allergy clearly

Use 我对……过敏. For example: 我对花生过敏. Say it before ordering, not after the dish arrives.

Ask whether the ingredient is inside

Ask 这个菜里面有……吗？ This helps staff check the ingredients with the kitchen.

Ask for confirmation

Use 请确认这个菜没有这些食材. This is stronger and clearer than only asking casually.

Stress importance

If the allergy is serious, say 这个对我很重要. You may also show the allergy phrase on your phone.

Useful Dietary Patterns

我不能吃…… Use this to say you cannot eat something. It sounds stronger than simply saying you do not like it.

我不能吃辣。 Wǒ bù néng chī là. I cannot eat spicy food.

我不吃…… Use this for dietary restrictions, religious reasons, or personal preference.

我不吃猪肉。 Wǒ bù chī zhūròu. I do not eat pork.

请不要放…… Use this to ask the kitchen not to add a specific ingredient.

请不要放香菜。 Qǐng búyào fàng xiāngcài. Please do not add cilantro.

这个菜里面有……吗？ Use this to ask whether a dish contains a specific ingredient.

这个菜里面有海鲜吗？ Zhège cài lǐmiàn yǒu hǎixiān ma? Does this dish contain seafood?

Common Ingredients to Watch

Peanuts and nuts

Peanuts and nuts may appear in sauces, toppings, cold dishes, desserts, or cooking oil.

Seafood

Seafood may include shrimp, crab, shellfish, fish sauce, dried shrimp, or seafood broth.

Pork

Pork may be used in dumplings, noodles, soup base, stir-fries, lard, or minced meat fillings.

Cilantro

Cilantro is often added at the end as a topping. If you dislike it, ask before the dish is prepared.

Interactive Scenarios

Asking about spiciness

  • Traveler这个菜辣吗？

    Zhège cài là ma?

    Is this dish spicy?

  • Traveler我不能吃辣。

    Wǒ bù néng chī là.

    I cannot eat spicy food.

  • Traveler请做不辣的。

    Qǐng zuò bú là de.

    Please make it not spicy.

Explaining an allergy

  • Traveler我对花生过敏。

    Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn.

    I am allergic to peanuts.

  • Traveler这个菜里面有花生吗？

    Zhège cài lǐmiàn yǒu huāshēng ma?

    Does this dish contain peanuts?

  • Traveler这个对我很重要。

    Zhège duì wǒ hěn zhòngyào.

    This is very important to me.

Dietary restrictions

  • Traveler我不吃猪肉。

    Wǒ bù chī zhūròu.

    I do not eat pork.

  • Traveler请不要放香菜。

    Qǐng búyào fàng xiāngcài.

    Please do not add cilantro.

  • Traveler有素食的菜吗？

    Yǒu sùshí de cài ma?

    Do you have vegetarian dishes?

Mini Quiz

How do you say “I cannot eat spicy food”?
  • 我不能吃辣。 ✓ Answer
  • 我要中辣。
  • 这个菜辣吗？
Which phrase means “I am allergic to peanuts”?
  • 我对花生过敏。 ✓ Answer
  • 我不吃牛肉。
  • 我不能吃辣。
What do you say to ask if a dish contains seafood?
  • 这个菜里面有海鲜吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 这个菜份量大吗？
  • 这个菜辣吗？
Which phrase means “Please do not add cilantro”?
  • 请不要放香菜。 ✓ Answer
  • 请少放辣椒。
  • 请做不辣的。

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