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Chinese menu words
The 149 words that turn up on menus across China, from 微辣 (mildly spicy) to 时价 (market price). Filter by type, search by meaning or pinyin, and tap to hear each one.
How to read a dish name
Most Chinese dish names are built from the words above: a cooking method or flavor, then the main ingredient. Once you know a few dozen words, menus stop being a wall of characters.
| Dish | Built from | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 红烧肉 | 红烧 (red-braised) + 肉 (meat (pork)) | red-braised pork belly |
| 清蒸鲈鱼 | 清蒸 (steamed plain) + 鲈鱼 (sea bass) | steamed sea bass |
| 鱼香肉丝 | 鱼香 (“fish-fragrant” sauce) + 肉丝 (shredded meat) | shredded pork in fish-fragrant sauce (no fish in it) |
Words that change what you get
- Spice: 不辣 not spicy, 微辣 mild, 中辣 medium, 特辣 extra hot. Mild in Chongqing can still be hot.
- 麻 (má) is the tingling, numbing feeling of Sichuan pepper, different from chili heat. 麻辣 is both.
- Drinks: 少冰 less ice, 少糖 less sugar, 无糖 no sugar, 常温 room temperature.
- Labels: 招牌菜 house specialty, 售罄 sold out, 清真 halal.
Questions
Is 鱼香 fish?
Usually not. 鱼香 (yúxiāng, “fish-fragrant”) is a Sichuan sauce of chili, garlic, ginger, vinegar and sugar. 鱼香肉丝 is pork. Ask if you need to be sure: 这个菜里面有鱼吗？
What does 时价 mean on a menu?
时价 (shíjià) means “market price”: the price changes, usually for seafood. Ask the price before you order, and check the weight unit, often 斤 (jīn, 500 g).
What do 位 and 份 mean next to a price?
位 (wèi) is per person, common for hot pot and buffets. 份 (fèn) is a portion; 大份, 小份 and 半份 are large, small and half portions.