ăn khem
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To follow a restricted diet / to abstain from certain foods: The primary meaning of "ăn kiêng" is to deliberately avoid consuming specific foods or food groups, typically for health, medical, or religious reasons. This involves dietary restrictions rather than simply reducing quantity.
- To be on a diet: It commonly refers to adhering to a prescribed eating plan, often for purposes of managing a health condition, recovering from illness, or for personal wellness.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Bệnh nhân tiểu đường phải ăn kiêng đường và tinh bột. (Diabetic patients must abstain from sugar and starch.)
- Cô ấy đang ăn kiêng để giảm cân. (She is on a diet to lose weight.)
- Sau phẫu thuật, anh ấy cần ăn kiêng vài tháng. (After surgery, he needs to follow a restricted diet for a few months.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase implies a conscious, rule-based selection of foods. It is more specific than general healthy eating and often involves elimination.
- Contexts of use: Commonly used in medical advice ("bác sĩ bảo ăn kiêng"), for weight management, for managing conditions like gout or high blood pressure, or during religious observances.
Variants and Related Words
Kiêng khem (v): A more emphatic or formal synonym, stressing strict abstinence. Often used in medical contexts.
- Người bị bệnh gan phải kiêng khem rất nghiêm ngặt. (People with liver disease must follow a very strict diet.)
Chế độ ăn kiêng (n): A diet plan, a dietary regimen.
- Chế độ ăn kiêng này rất khó tuân theo. (This diet plan is very difficult to follow.)
Synonyms
- To abstain from food: To refrain from eating specific things.
- To be on a restricted diet: To follow a limited eating plan.
- To follow dietary restrictions: To adhere to rules about what one can eat.
Related Idioms
- Ăn kiêng ăn cữ: To follow a strict and careful diet, often for a long period, especially after childbirth or during illness.
- Bà đẻ phải ăn kiêng ăn cữ đủ tháng. (Postpartum women must follow a strict traditional diet for a full month.)