Chinese Food for the English Tongue126

Chinese cuisine is renowned worldwide for its diverse flavors, vibrant colors, and aromatic spices. With its extensive culinary repertoire, the Chinese language has a vast array of terms to describe the myriad dishes that grace its tables.

Navigating the culinary lexicon of China can be a formidable task for English speakers. To bridge this linguistic gap, this guide provides a comprehensive list of Chinese food terms translated into English, encompassing a wide spectrum of culinary categories.

Appetizers
Baozi: Steamed buns filled with various savory ingredients
Dumplings: Bite-sized parcels of dough wrapped around a meat or vegetable filling
Edamame: Boiled soybeans in the pod, often served with salt
Guotie: Pan-fried dumplings with crispy bottoms
Spring rolls: Crispy rolls filled with shredded vegetables, meat, and rice noodles

Main Courses
Beijing duck: Roasted duck with crispy skin and tender meat
Chongqing chicken: Spicy Sichuan dish with tender chicken and numbing peppercorns
Dim sum: Cantonese-style small dishes served in bamboo steamers
Mapo tofu: Silken tofu braised in a spicy sauce
Noodles: A wide variety of wheat, rice, or egg noodles served with various sauces

Soups
Congee: Rice porridge cooked with water or broth
Egg drop soup: Clear soup with egg ribbons
Hot and sour soup: Spicy and sour soup with tofu, vegetables, and meat
Wonton soup: Soup with wonton dumplings
Zhajiang noodles: Noodles topped with a fermented soybean paste sauce

Vegetables
Bok choy: Chinese cabbage with dark green leaves and white stalks
Choy sum: Flowering vegetable with tender stems and leaves
Enoki mushrooms: Long, thin mushrooms with a delicate flavor
Shiitake mushrooms: Large, brown mushrooms with a meaty texture
Watercress: Peppery green leafy vegetable

Meat and Poultry
Char siu: Cantonese-style barbecued pork
Kung pao chicken: Spicy Sichuan dish with chicken and peanuts
Peking duck: Roasted duck with crispy skin and tender meat
Sweet and sour pork: Pork coated in a sweet and sour sauce
Wok-fried beef: Beef stir-fried in a flavorful sauce

Rice and Noodles
Chow mein: Stir-fried noodles with various meats and vegetables
Fried rice: Rice stir-fried with eggs, meats, and vegetables
Lo mein: Saucy noodles with various toppings
Rice noodles: Thin, flat noodles made from rice flour
Stir-fried noodles: Noodles stir-fried with meats, vegetables, and sauces

Desserts
Bubble tea: Tea-based drink with chewy tapioca pearls
Egg tarts: Flaky pastry filled with sweet custard
Lychee: Sweet, tropical fruit with a translucent white flesh
Mango pudding: Creamy pudding made with mango puree
Mooncakes: Pastries filled with sweet or savory ingredients, traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival

2024-11-12

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