Tag: food

Grammar

连…都/也 (lián…dōu/yě) – “Even” Pattern
This pattern emphasizes an extreme or unexpected situation. 连 comes before the surprising element, and 都 or 也 comes before the verb. It highlights that if this basic thing is true, other things are certainly true.
Examples: 我连切菜都不会, 他连自己的名字都忘了

越来越 (yuè lái yuè) – “More and more” Pattern
This pattern indicates a progressive change or trend. The structure is: 越来越 + adjective/verb. It shows that a quality is continuously increasing or intensifying over time.
Examples: 我的菜越来越好吃, 天气越来越冷

只要…就… (zhǐyào…jiù…) – “As long as…then…” Pattern
This conditional pattern expresses that if a certain condition is met, a result will follow. 只要 introduces the condition, and 就 introduces the guaranteed result.
Examples: 只要坚持，就一定能成功, 只要努力，就能学好

Idiomatic Expressions

对…感兴趣
This phrase means “to be interested in” something. The pattern is: 对 + topic + 感兴趣. It’s the standard way to express interest in Chinese.
Example: 我对做中国菜感兴趣

从来不
This phrase means “never” when referring to past habits or experiences. 从来 means “ever” and 不 negates it. It emphasizes that something has never happened throughout a period of time.
Example: 以前我从来不做饭

一开始
This time expression means “at the beginning” or “at first” and introduces the initial stage of a process or experience. It often contrasts with later developments, showing change or progress over time.
Example: 一开始，我连切菜都不会

按步骤
This phrase means “following steps” or “according to the procedure.” 按 means “according to” and 步骤 means “step/procedure.” It’s commonly used when following instructions or recipes.
Example: 我按步骤做

好几个
This quantifier phrase means “quite a few” or “several” and indicates a number that’s more than expected. 好 intensifies 几 (several), suggesting a surprisingly large number.
Example: 我已经会做好几个菜了

比较难
This phrase means “relatively difficult” or “fairly hard.” 比较 softens the degree of 难 (difficult), making it less absolute than saying something is simply “difficult.”
Example: 虽然比较难

Cultural Insights

Chinese Home Cooking Culture

In Chinese culture, the ability to cook is traditionally valued, especially for family meals. While 外卖 (food delivery) has become extremely popular in modern China through apps like Meituan and Ele.me, there’s growing awareness about health (健康) and a resurgence of interest in home cooking, especially among young people.

西红柿炒鸡蛋 (tomato scrambled eggs) is often considered the quintessential beginner dish in Chinese cooking. It’s simple, uses common ingredients, and is beloved across China. It represents comfort food and home cooking, often associated with childhood memories and mother’s cooking.

Online Learning and Cooking Videos

Chinese cooking culture has embraced online video platforms. Websites like Bilibili, Douyin (Chinese TikTok), and Xiaohongshu feature countless cooking tutorials. The phrase 上网搜索视频 reflects how younger generations learn traditional cooking methods through modern technology rather than solely from family members.

Popular dishes mentioned like 酱油鸡 (soy sauce chicken) and 干煸四季豆 (dry-fried green beans) represent classic Chinese home cooking. These dishes require basic stir-frying techniques and understanding of seasoning balance—fundamental skills in Chinese cooking.

The Philosophy of Learning and Persistence

The story reflects Chinese cultural values around learning: 耐心 (patience), 坚持 (persistence), and gradual improvement (进步). The phrase 只要坚持，就一定能成功 embodies the traditional Chinese belief that consistent effort leads to mastery.

Making 饺子 (dumplings) is considered a milestone in Chinese cooking. Dumplings require skill in making dough, preparing filling, and folding—techniques that take practice. Successfully making dumplings represents achieving competence in Chinese cooking and connects to cultural traditions of family dumpling-making sessions during festivals.

Grammar

不太 (bù tài) – “Not very” Pattern
This pattern softens negation to express “not very” or “not really.” 不 + 太 creates a milder negative compared to direct negation. It’s commonly used to politely express preferences or dislikes.
Examples: 我不太喜欢吃辣的东西, 天气不太好

因为…所以… (yīnwèi…suǒyǐ…) – “Because…therefore…” Pattern
This pattern explicitly links cause and effect. Although English doesn’t use both “because” and “so,” Chinese naturally uses 因为 before the reason and 所以 (optional but common) before the result.
Examples: 因为我的胃不好，所以我不吃辣的, 因为太贵了

Idiomatic Expressions

爱吃
This expression means “to love eating” and describes someone who enjoys food. 爱 is stronger than 喜欢 and shows deep fondness. It’s commonly used to describe food preferences.
Example: 我很爱吃东西

加入
This verb means “to add” ingredients or elements into something. It’s commonly used in cooking contexts when describing adding ingredients to a dish. 加 + 入 emphasizes putting something inside.
Example: 我喜欢加入鸡蛋和青菜

很少
This phrase means “rarely” or “seldom” and indicates low frequency. Unlike 从不 (never), 很少 suggests the action happens occasionally but not often.
Example: 我很少吃牛肉

太…了
This pattern expresses “too much” or extreme degree. 太 comes before the adjective and 了 at the end emphasizes the excessive nature. It can be positive or negative depending on context.
Example: 太贵了

最爱
This noun/expression means “favorite” or “most loved.” It combines 最 (most) with 爱 (love) to indicate the highest preference. It’s commonly used informally to describe favorite things.
Example: 苹果是我的最爱

Cultural Insights

Chinese Food Culture and Meal Structure

In Chinese culture, breakfast often features warm, comforting foods like 面条 (noodles) or 粥 (rice porridge). The preference for hot breakfast reflects traditional Chinese medicine beliefs that warm foods are better for digestion and health. Cold breakfast items like cereal or cold milk are uncommon in traditional Chinese eating habits.

The concept of 营养 (nutrition) and 平衡 (balance) is central to Chinese food philosophy. Adding 鸡蛋 (eggs) and 青菜 (vegetables) to noodles demonstrates the principle of combining carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables for a balanced meal.

Spiciness and Regional Food Preferences

Not all Chinese people enjoy 辣 (spicy) food. Regional differences are significant: people from Sichuan and Hunan provinces are famous for loving extremely spicy food, while people from Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Guangdong prefer sweeter, milder flavors. The mention of stomach sensitivity (胃不好) reflects growing health awareness in modern China.

Chinese cuisine features specific vocabulary for different meats: 鸡肉, 猪肉, 牛肉, and 鱼. Pork is traditionally the most common and affordable meat in China, which is why beef is mentioned as expensive (太贵).

Market Shopping and Home Cooking

Going to the 市场 (market) to buy 新鲜 (fresh) ingredients is a valued tradition in Chinese culture. Many Chinese people prefer fresh produce bought daily or every few days rather than bulk buying and freezing. The emphasis on freshness reflects the cultural belief that fresh ingredients make healthier and tastier food.