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verb / noun HSK 5
jì kǒu
to avoid certain foods · dietary restriction · to be on a restricted diet

Meaning

忌口 refers to abstaining from certain foods for health, medical, or religious reasons. It's commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine contexts when a doctor advises patients to avoid specific foods during treatment or recovery. The word literally means 'to taboo the mouth.'

Usage

This term is extremely common in medical and health contexts in Chinese culture. Native speakers often use it when discussing dietary restrictions during illness, pregnancy, or after surgery. It can also refer to food allergies or religious dietary laws. The phrase '医生说要忌口' (the doctor said to watch your diet) is very typical.

Examples

  1. 01
    医生说我最近要忌口，不能吃辣的和油腻的食物。
    Yī shēng shuō wǒ zuì jìn yào jì kǒu, bù néng chī là de hé yóu nì de shí wù.
    The doctor said I need to watch my diet recently and can't eat spicy or greasy foods.
  2. 02
    她怀孕期间很注意忌口，海鲜和冷饮都不碰。
    Tā huái yùn qī jiān hěn zhù yì jì kǒu, hǎi xiān hé lěng yǐn dōu bù pèng.
    During her pregnancy, she's very careful about dietary restrictions and doesn't touch seafood or cold drinks.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 需要忌口
    xū yào jì kǒu
    need to watch one's diet
  • 忌口的东西
    jì kǒu de dōng xi
    foods to avoid
  • 不用忌口
    bù yòng jì kǒu
    no dietary restrictions needed
  • 严格忌口
    yán gé jì kǒu
    strictly avoid certain foods

Origin

The term combines 忌 (taboo/avoid) with 口 (mouth), literally meaning to keep the mouth away from certain things. This concept is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, which emphasizes the relationship between diet and health.

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