Food and Cooking Vocabulary

Cooking Methods To stir-fry 炒 To stew 炖 To roast 烧 To boil 煮 To steam 蒸 To pan-fry 煎 To grill烤

To deep fry油炸 (to fry in oil) To bake 烘烤

To blanch – to cook or dip food very quickly into hot water (usually for vegetables)

To broil – to cook food by placing it directly under or over a heat source

Other Cooking Styles: To steam (in a sealed container) 焗 To braise 烩

To simmer (in a covered container) 焖 (in English food made this way is called a “casserole”) To simmer (to cook over a slow fire) 炆 To simmer (to cook over a low heat) 煨 To pot-stew 卤 To boil/to stew 熬 To soak 泡

NOTE: When describing a food’s name, we used the adjective form of the word. For example, 煎饺 would be written “pan-fried dumplings” and not “pan-fry dumplings.”

Preparation Methods

To chop/cut 切 to cut into small pieces

To mince – to cut into very, very small pieces To grind 绞碎 to press food into a powder To blend – to mix together To pour 倒

To marinate – to let a food sit in sauce or other flavorings for a period of time (ex. marinate the chicken for an hour) To stir 搅 To shake 摇

To peel 剥，削

Main Ingredients Vegetables Cucumber 黄瓜

White radish, daikon 白萝卜 Carrot 胡萝卜 Winter Melon 冬瓜 Bitter Melon 苦瓜 Lettuce 生菜

Kai-lan, Chinese broccoli 芥兰 Pak choi/Bok choy 小白菜 Mustard greens 梅干菜 Turnip 芜菁 Radish 萝卜

Brussels sprouts 芽甘蓝 Spinach 菠菜 Bean sprouts 豆芽 Taro 芋头

Asparagus 芦笋 Leek 韭菜 Onion 洋葱

Green onion 大葱 Arugula 芝麻菜 Sweet potato 红薯 Yam 地瓜

Pickled Chinese cabbage 酸菜Snow pea 荷兰豆 Green bean 四季豆 Chinese yam 山药 Watercress 水田芥 Red bean 红豆 Kidney bean 芸豆 Black bean 黑豆 Green soybean 青豆 Chickpea 鹰嘴豆 Pinto bean 斑豆 Lima bean 小菜豆

Baby bok choy 青菜 Choy sum 菜心 Chicory 菊苣

Garland Chrysanthemum 茼蒿 Crowndaisy Chrysanthemum 蓬蒿 Komatsuna 小松菜

Chinese cabbage 大白菜 Burdock 牛蒡 Okra 秋葵 Garlic 大蒜 Potato 土豆

Rape (seed), canola 油菜 Tomato 番茄，西红柿 Eggplant 茄子 Cauliflower 花菜 Pea 豌豆 Lotus root 莲藕 Celery 芹菜

Wood ear fungus 木耳 Pepper 辣椒 Bell pepper 青椒 Mushroom 蘑菇

- Shiitake mushroom 香菇 - Enoki mushroom 金针菇 - Oyster mushroom平菇

- Shaggy mane mushroom 鸡腿菇- Black winter mushroom 冬菇 - Straw mushroom 草菇 Soybean 黄豆

Bamboo shoots 竹笋

Water chestnuts 荸荠，马蹄 Towel gourd 丝瓜 Gourd 葫芦 Zucchini 西葫芦

Avocado 鳄梨，牛油果 Olive 橄榄 Day lily 金针菜

Baby cabbage 娃娃菜

Kimchi, pickled vegetables 泡菜 Seasonal vegetables 时蔬

Seafood Fish 鱼

- Snakehead fish黑鱼 - Catfish 鲶鱼 - Carp 鲤鱼

- Crucian carp 鲫鱼 - Tilapia 罗非鱼 - Tuna 金鱼 - Salmon 三文鱼 - Grass carp 草鱼

- Pomfret, butterfish鲳鱼 - Bream 武昌鱼

- Yellow croaker 黄花鱼 - Cod 鳕鱼

- Porgy, sea bream 鲷鱼 - Swordfish 剑鱼 - Hairtail 带鱼 - Grouper 石斑鱼 - Halibut 大比目鱼 - Red Snapper 红笛鲷 - Sea Bass 海鲈鱼 - Mahimahi 鲯鳅 - Sturgeon 鲟 - Bass, perch 鲈鱼 - Loach 泥鳅 Shrimp 虾 Cuttlefish 墨鱼

Soft-shelled turtle 甲鱼 Mussel 贻贝， Clam 蛤，蚌 Oyster 蚝，蛎 Octopus 章鱼 Squid 鱿鱼 Crab 螃蟹

Hairy crab 大闸蟹 Lobster 龙虾

Crawfish 淡水螯虾 Sea snail 海螺 Scallop 扇贝

Abalone 鲍鱼

Sea cucumber 海参 Eel 鳗鱼，白鳝 Jellyfish 海蜇

Meats Pork 猪肉 Beef 牛肉

- Beef ribs 牛排 - Cow tongue 牛舌 - Beef tenderloin 牛腩 - Beefsteak 牛扒 Veal 小牛肉

Lamb/Mutton 羊肉 Donkey 驴肉 Venison 鹿肉 Duck 鸭肉 Goose 鹅肉 Dog 狗肉 Rabbit 兔肉 Chicken 鸡肉

- Chicken leg/drumstick 鸡腿 (usually more

roundly shaped at the end – like a drumstick) - Chicken thigh 鸡腿 (larger than a chicken leg) - Chicken feet 鸡爪

- Chicken breast 鸡胸，鸡脯 - Chicken wing 鸡翅 - Chicken gizzards 鸡胗 Pigeon/Dove 鸽子 Quail 鹌鹑 Turkey 火鸡 Ham 火腿 Bacon 培根

Steamed fatty pork 扣肉 Sausage 香肠

____ ball 丸 (ex. 肉丸meatball, 鱼丸 fish ball) Tendons 蹄筋 Intestines 肥肠 Tenderloin 里脊

Silkworm 蚕 Tripe 肚

Spareribs 排骨

_____ pieces 杂 (ex. 鸡杂 chicken pieces)

Fruits Apple 苹果 Orange 橙子

Tangerine, mandarin orange橘子 Dragon fruit 火龙果 Red date 红枣

Jujube, Chinese date 枣 Pumpkin 南瓜 Muskmelon 香瓜 Watermelon 西瓜 Sweet melon 甜瓜 Strawberry 草莓 Cherry 樱桃 Grape 葡萄

Raspberry 覆盆子 Cranberry 蔓越橘 Banana 香蕉 Peach 桃子 Sugarcane 甘蔗 Pomegranate 石榴 Grapefruit 柚子 Pineapple 菠萝 Coconut 椰子 Pear 梨

Goji berry, wolfberry 枸杞 Kiwi 猕猴桃 Loquat 枇杷 Plum 李子 Fig 无花果 Lychee 荔枝 Papaya 木瓜

Longan 桂圆 ，龙眼 Persimmon 柿子 Star fruit 杨桃

Lemon 柠檬 Lime 青柠 Mango 芒果

Hawthorn berries 山楂 Mulberry 桑葚 Raisin 葡萄干

Cantaloupe 哈密瓜 Waxberry 杨梅 Durian 榴莲 Apricot 杏子

Mangosteen山竹 Kumquat 金桔 Rambutan红毛丹 Plantain 芭蕉

Sweetsop, sugar-apple 番荔枝 , Passion fruit 百香果 Guava 番石榴 Blueberry 蓝莓

Peruvian cherry 灯笼果 Jackfruit 菠萝蜜 Black currant 黑布仑 Wax apple 莲雾 Egg fruit 蛋黄果 Quince 榅桲 Blackberry 黑莓

Other Plants Mint 薄荷 Aloe 芦荟

Indocalamus (a type of bamboo) 箬竹Ginseng 人参 Gingko 银杏 Wild herbs 野菜 Job’s tears薏苡

Cassia seeds 决明子 Fox nuts 芡实

Cuscuta seeds 菟丝子 Fritillaria 川贝母 Kudzu root 葛根 Licorice 甘草

Lily bulb 百合 Perilla leaf 紫苏叶 Seaweed 海带 Nuts Walnut 核桃

Hazelnut, filbert 榛子 Chestnut 栗子 Peanut 花生 Almond 杏仁 Cashew 腰果 Pistachio 开心果 Sunflower seed瓜子 Pine nut 松仁

Sweet Foods Cookie 曲奇 Cake 蛋糕 Pie 派

Ice cream 冰淇林 Chocolate 巧克力 Sweet dumplings 汤圆Honey 蜂蜜 Custard 蛋奶糕

Dairy Foods Cheese 奶酪 Yogurt 酸奶 Butter 黄油 Cream 奶油 Milk 牛奶

Snack Foods Cracker 饼干 Potato chips 薯片 Muffin 松饼

Fava beans 蚕豆

Other Foods Tofu 豆腐 Tofu skin 豆皮

Gluten 面筋 Pizza 比萨 Sushi 寿司 Sashimi 刺身 Sandwich 三明治 Dim Sum 点心，饮茶 Preserved eggs 松花蛋 Salad 沙律，沙拉 Hamburger 汉堡包 French fries 薯条 Jelly 果冻 Pasta 意面

Staple Foods White Rice 米饭 Fried Rice 炒饭 Noodles 面 Ramen 拉面 Bread 面包 Dumplings 饺子 Steamed buns 馒头 Steamed stuffed buns 包子 Pancake, bun 饼 (ex. 煎饼) Wonton 馄饨

Cellophane noodles 粉丝 Rice noodles 米线 Brown rice 糙米

Wild rice 菰米，野生米 Soba noodles 荞麦

Soups

Thick Soup 羹 Soup 汤 Stew 炖

Drinks

Green tea 绿茶 Black tea 红茶 Pu’er tea 普洱茶 Oolong tea 乌龙茶

Chrysanthemum tea 菊花茶Jasmine tea 茉莉花茶 Milk tea 奶茶

Bubble tea 珍珠奶茶 Grapefruit tea 柚子茶 Rose tea 玫瑰茶 Fruit juice 果汁 Coffee 咖啡

Coke/Coca-cola 可乐，可口可乐 Sprite 雪碧 7 up 七喜

Pepsi 百事可乐 Fanta 芬达 Soda 汽水

Flavors Bitter 苦 Sour 酸 Sweet 甜

Spicy 辣 (often in English you can also say “hot” to mean spicy – ex. “This pepper is really hot!”) Salty 咸 Fresh 新鲜

Light 清淡 (in English we also use the word “bland” to mean 清淡 but “bland” is often used when a food is bad because has no flavor) Thick/strong 浓

Savory 美味的, a pleasing or attractive taste

Textures Oily 油腻 Smooth 滑 Refreshing 爽 Crunchy/crispy 脆 Tender 嫩 Dry 干

Rough/coarse 粗糙 Sticky 黏的 Chewy 劲道

Crumbly 易成粉末的 Creamy 含奶油的 Fluffy 松软的

Seasonings, Sauces and Spices Vinegar 醋

- White vinegar 白醋 - Rice vinegar 米醋

- Black rice vinegar 黑米醋 - Glutinous rice vinegar 糯米粗 - Chinkiang vinegar 镇江香醋 - Shanxi vinegar 老陈醋 White sugar 白糖 Brown sugar 红糖 Soy Sauce 酱油

- Light soy sauce 生抽 - Dark soy sauce 老抽 Cooking starch/cornstarch 淀粉 Fermented Black Beans 豆豉 Garlic 蒜

Cinnamon 肉桂 Ginger 姜

Black pepper 黑胡椒 White pepper 白胡椒

Sichuan pepper/prickly ash 花椒 Five spice 五香 Star anise 八角

Chili sauce/hot sauce 辣椒酱 Hoisin sauce 海鲜酱 Oyster sauce 蚝油 Sesame oil 芝麻油

Cooking wine/sherry 料酒 Curry 咖喱 Honey 蜂蜜

Baking soda 发酵粉 Cumin 孜然 Cloves 丁香 Wasabi 芥末 Horseradish 辣根 Cardamom 小豆蔻 Basil 罗勒 Cilantro 香菜 Tarragon 龙蒿

Saffron 藏红花 Turmeric 姜黄 Nutmeg 肉豆蔻 Oregano 牛至 Thyme 百里香

Allspice 多果香，甘椒 Bay leaf 月桂叶 Aniseed 茴香 Parsley 香芹

Coriander 干香菜，芫荽 Dill 莳萝

Lemongrass 香茅草 Vanilla 香草

Rosemary 迷迭香

Condition

Raw/Unripe 生的 Ripe 熟的

Rotten/Spoiled 烂的

Undercooked – not cooked long enough Overcooked – cooked for too long

Other Words Flavor 味道 Filling 馅

Cooking Flavors and Styles

NOTE: Put the name of the actual food where the “…” is. For example, 清蒸鲈鱼 would be “bass steamed in clear soup”, or白灼牛肉 would be “Flash fried beef”.

…braised in soy sauce 红烧 …steamed in clear soup 清蒸 Pan flame… 干锅 … skillet 铁板

…in garlic sauce 蒜蓉 …hot pot 火锅 Flash-fried… 白灼 …in sauce 凉拌 Poached… 水煮

…stir-fried in hot oil 干煸

Hot and spicy… 麻辣 Fragrant and spicy… 香辣 Home-style… 家常 Claypot… 煲仔 …over rice 盖浇饭

…in fermented black bean sauce 豉汁 Stir-fried… 小炒 Char siu… 叉烧

Measure Words for Food

NOTE: Put the name of the actual food where the “…” is. For example, 土豆丝 would be “potato strips”, or 牛肉末 would be “ground beef”.

…strips 丝 …cubes 丁 …pieces 块 Ground… 末 …skin 皮 …roll 卷

Appliances and Utensils Spatula 锅铲 Strainer 漏勺 Wok 炒锅 Peeler 削皮器

Frying pan 平底锅 Dish 碟子 Plate 盘子 Bowl 碗 Bottle 瓶子 Cup 杯子

Bamboo Steamer 蒸笼 Steamer 蒸锅

Rice cooker 电饭煲 Teapot 茶壶 Napkin 餐巾纸 Sauce pan 炖锅 Pot 汤锅 Spoon 勺子 Knife 刀 Fork 叉

Restaurant Vocabulary Private room 单间 Dining hall 大厅 Table 桌子 Chair 椅子 Server 服务员