Traditional Chinese - Food Preferences

我喜歡吃___的食物。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī ___ de shíwù。

I like ___ food.

Meaning: 我喜歡吃___的食物。 (Wǒ xǐhuān chī ___ de shíwù。) means “I like ___ food.”

When to use: Use it with taste or type words like 辣的 (là de), 甜的 (tián de), or 健康的 (jiànkāng de).

Tip: Don’t forget 的 (de) after the adjective: 辣的食物 (là de shíwù), not just 辣食物 (là shíwù).

我不太喜歡___。

Wǒ bù tài xǐhuān ___.

I don't really like ___.

Meaning: 我不太喜歡___。 (Wǒ bù tài xǐhuān ___.) means “I don’t really like ___.”

When to use: Use it when you want to sound softer and more polite than saying you hate something.

___是我的最愛。

___ shì wǒ de zuì'ài.

___ is my favorite.

Meaning: ___是我的最愛。 (___ shì wǒ de zuì'ài.) means “___ is my favorite.”

When to use: Use it for a dish, drink, snack, or ingredient you really love.

你最喜歡吃什麼？

Nǐ zuì xǐhuān chī shénme?

What's your favorite food?

Meaning: 你最喜歡吃什麼？ (Nǐ zuì xǐhuān chī shénme?) means “What’s your favorite food?”

When to use: Use it to start an easy food conversation with a friend, classmate, or host.

我不能吃___。

Wǒ bù néng chī ___.

I can't eat ___.

Meaning: 我不能吃___。 (Wǒ bù néng chī ___.) means “I can’t eat ___.”

When to use: Use it for allergies, health reasons, religious restrictions, or other dietary limits.

Tip: Use 不能 (bù néng) when there is a real restriction or “can’t,” not just a mild dislike.

我吃素

Wǒ chī sù.

I'm vegetarian.

Meaning: 我吃素。 (Wǒ chī sù.) means “I’m vegetarian.”

When to use: Use this simple phrase when ordering or explaining your diet in Taiwan.

裡面有___嗎？

Lǐmiàn yǒu ___ ma?

Does it have ___ in it?

Meaning: 裡面有___嗎？ (Lǐmiàn yǒu ___ ma?) means “Does it have ___ in it?”

When to use: Use it to ask if a dish or drink contains a specific ingredient.

都可以

Dōu kěyǐ.

Anything is fine.

Meaning: 都可以。 (Dōu kěyǐ.) means “Anything is fine.”

When to use: Use it when you are flexible and don’t have a strong preference.

對我來說太___了。

Duì wǒ lái shuō tài ___ le.

It's too ___ for me.

Meaning: 對我來說太___了。 (Duì wǒ lái shuō tài ___ le.) means “It’s too ___ for me.”

When to use: Use it with adjectives like 辣 (là), 甜 (tián), 鹹 (xián), 油 (yóu), or 重口味 (zhòng kǒuwèi).

Tip: Keep 了 (le) at the end in this pattern: 太辣了 (tài là le) sounds complete and natural.

我不吃 ___

Wǒ bù chī ___.

I don't eat ___.

Meaning: 我不吃___。 (Wǒ bù chī ___.) means “I don’t eat ___.”

When to use: Use it for a dietary exclusion, personal preference, or religious reason.

我盡量不吃 ___。

Wǒ jǐnliàng bù chī ___.

I try to avoid ___.

Meaning: 我盡量不吃___。 (Wǒ jǐnliàng bù chī ___.) means “I try to avoid ___.”

When to use: Use it when you usually avoid something, but it may not be an absolute rule.

我通常 ___ 會吃 ___。

Wǒ tōngcháng ___ huì chī ___.

I usually eat ___ for ___.

Meaning: 我通常___會吃___。 (Wǒ tōngcháng ___ huì chī ___.) means “I usually eat ___ for ___.”

When to use: Put the meal first, like 早餐 (zǎocān), 午餐 (wǔcān), or 晚餐 (wǎncān), then the food.

你 ___ 通常吃什麼？

Nǐ ___ tōngcháng chī shénme?

What do you usually eat for ___?

Meaning: 你___通常吃什麼？ (Nǐ ___ tōngcháng chī shénme?) means “What do you usually eat for ___?”

When to use: Use it to ask about someone’s normal breakfast, lunch, or dinner habits.