Chinese food is delicious and so much fun to eat. It’s also a great way to learn Chinese, especially if you’re learning Chinese through immersion.
But if you want to really dive into the world of Chinese cuisine, it’s important to learn some terms in Chinese food ingredients vocabulary.
After all, how can you enjoy a meal if you don’t know what’s in it?
We’ve put together this list of 5 essentials for those who want to get more out of their next Chinese-food experience:
Ingredients In Chinese
1. Scallions, Ginger, Garlic – 葱姜蒜 (Cōng Jiāng Suàn)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]葱姜蒜[/Speechword]
Scallion, ginger, and garlic are the “big three” aromatics in Chinese cuisine, and they are commonly mentioned in recipes as 葱姜蒜 (cōng jiāng suàn).
Scallions 葱 (cōng) are sometimes called green onions or spring onions in English. They have long white roots with green leaves that look like thin stalks.
Ginger 薑 (jiāng) is a spice used widely in most dishes on the Chinese menu. It has a very fragrant, spicy flavor that adds depth to dishes.
Garlic 蒜 (suàn) has a strong, pungent flavor that adds authenticity to most Chinese dishes. It’s often cooked slowly with meats or seafood to infuse them with flavor.
These three elements together form the trinity of Chinese cooking. Not only do they provide a unique flavor to every meal, but they also offer components that are good for health.
2. Soy Sauce – 酱油 (Jiàng Yóu)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]酱油[/Speechword]
Soy sauce is one of the primary ingredients in many Chinese dishes. Hence, it’s a must-have in your Chinese food vocabulary. It’s used to season everything from fried rice to dumplings—and it can also be used as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or egg rolls.
Soy sauce is a thick, dark brown liquid made from fermented soybeans and wheat. The liquid is then aged and then combined with salt and water, which gives it its distinctive flavor and taste.
The Chinese have a deep appreciation for soy sauce. So, they’ve made a lot of different kinds set of uses.
The three most common types of soy sauce in traditional Chinese cookery are:
- Light soy sauce – 生抽 (shēng chōu)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]生抽[/Speechword]
- Dark soy sauce – 老抽 (lǎo chōu)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]老抽[/Speechword]
- Normal soy sauce – 酱油 (jiàng yóu)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]酱油[/Speechword]
The difference between these three types of soy sauce is their saltiness and color.
3. White Pepper Powder – 白胡椒粉 (Bái Hú Jiāo Fěn)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]白胡椒粉[/Speechword]
White pepper powder 白胡椒粉 (bái hú jiāo fěn) is used in Chinese food in the same way that black pepper is used in Western cuisine.
It’s an essential spice to have on hand, but it’s not something you’ll find in every kitchen pantry.
The best use of this pepper is in hot and sour soup, 酸辣汤 (suān là tāng). The spice is also used in marinades, stir-fries, and other meat dishes.
4. Oyster Sauce – 蚝油 (Hào Yóu)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]蚝油[/Speechword]
Oyster sauce is a key ingredient in Chinese recipes. It is a thick sauce made from oysters and other ingredients, and it has a strong umami flavor that adds depth to any dish it’s added to. Like the white pepper powder, this sauce is best in stir-fries, marinades, and other meat dishes.
Fun fact: There are different quality levels of oyster sauce. The premium quality has a more robust flavor because of its higher concentration of oyster essence. On the other hand, there is more sugar in the normal one, and it’s cheaper.
5. Shaoxing Wine – 绍兴酒 (Shào Xīng Jiǔ)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]绍兴酒[/Speechword]
Shaoxing wine 绍兴酒 (shào xīng jiǔ) is one of the ideal Chinese ingredients. It’s used to flavor soups, braises, and sauces, as well as to tenderize meat.
If you’ve ever had a dish with a “yellow” sauce, it was probably made with Shaoxing wine!
The wine is named after the city of Shaoxing in eastern China, where it’s produced. It can be made from either rice or wheat—the same way that other wines are made from grapes.
6. Hoisin Sauce – 海鲜酱 (Hǎi Xiān Jiàng)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]海鲜酱[/Speechword]
Hoisin sauce is a sweet and savory Chinese sauce made from soybeans and sugar. It’s generally used as a marinade for meats, but it also makes a great dipping sauce!
Hoisin sauce can be found in most grocery stores. If you don’t have any on hand, you can make your own using these ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of soy sauce – 酱油 (jiàng yóu)
- 1/4 cup of rice vinegar – 米醋 (mǐ cù)
- 2 teaspoons of brown sugar – 黄糖 (huángtáng)
- 1 teaspoon of sesame oil – 芝麻油 (zhīma yóu)
7. Five Spice Powder – 五香粉 (Wǔ Xiāng Fěn)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]五香粉[/Speechword]
This blend of spices includes cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, Sichuan peppercorn, and star anise. It has a warm, spicy taste that’s great for adding to marinades and sauces. You can find five spice powders at most Asian grocery stores.
8. Soybean Paste – 豆瓣酱 (Dòu Bàn Jiàng)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]豆瓣酱[/Speechword]
Dòu bàn jiàng is a salty, fermented-savory, and spicy thick brown paste. If you want to make authentic Sichuan dishes like Mapo Tofu, you’ll need to get this essential ingredient. If you like spicy foods, you should definitely give this item a try. It instantly elevates the taste of even the most basic food.
9. Peanut Oil – 花生油 (Huā Shēng Yóu)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]花生油[/Speechword]
Peanut oil is an ingredient in the Chinese kitchen that adds flavor and texture to dishes. It has a high smoke point, so it’s excellent for frying or sautéing.
It has a strong flavor and aroma, so you don’t have to use a ton to get the effect you’re looking for.
10. Chinkiang Vinegar – 镇江香醋 (Zhèn Jiāng Xiāng Cù)
[Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]镇江香醋[/Speechword]
Almost as black in hue as soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar stands out immediately. Flavor-wise, it’s bolder and tangier than the lighter rice vinegar, with a malty smell and a woodsy character. As balsamic vinegar is to Italian cooking, Chinkiang vinegar is to Chinese.
Chinese Ingredients Vocabulary Related To Meats And Seafood
Here are some of the most common Chinese words related to meats and seafood:
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Sound |
| Meat | 肉 | Ròu | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]肉[/Speechword] |
| Pork | 猪肉 | Zhū ròu | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]猪肉[/Speechword] |
| Beef | 牛肉 | Niú ròu | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]牛肉[/Speechword] |
| Chicken | 鸡 | Jī | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]鸡[/Speechword] |
| Duck | 鸭子 | Yā zi | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]鸭子[/Speechword] |
| Bacon | 熏肉 | Xūn ròu | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]熏肉[/Speechword] |
| Sausages | 香肠 | Xiāng cháng | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]香肠[/Speechword] |
| Ham | 火腿 | Huǒ tuǐ | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]火腿[/Speechword] |
| Steak | 牛扒 | Niú bā | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]牛扒[/Speechword] |
| Seafood | 海鲜 | Hǎi xiān | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]海鲜[/Speechword] |
| Fish | 鱼 | Yú | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]鱼[/Speechword] |
| Crab | 螃蟹 | Páng xiè | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]螃蟹[/Speechword] |
| Shrimp | 虾 | Xiā | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]虾[/Speechword] |
| Clam | 蛤 | Há | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]蛤[/Speechword] |
| Lobster | 龙虾 | Lóng xiā | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]龙虾[/Speechword] |
| Oyster | 牡蛎 | Mǔ lì | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]牡蛎[/Speechword] |
| Squid | 乌贼 | Wū zéi | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]乌贼[/Speechword] |
| Octopus | 章鱼 | Zhāng yú | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]章鱼[/Speechword] |
| Scallop | 扇贝 | Shàn bèi | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]扇贝[/Speechword] |
Chinese Ingredients Vocabulary Related To Herbs And Spices
Below is a list of some ordinary Chinese words related to herbs and spices:
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Sound |
| Basil | 罗勒 | Luólè | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]罗勒[/Speechword] |
| Chives | 韭菜 | Jiǔcài | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]韭菜[/Speechword] |
| Cilantro | 香菜 | Xiāngcài | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]香菜[/Speechword] |
| Dill | 莳萝 | Shíluó | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]莳萝[/Speechword] |
| Marjoram | 墨角兰 | Mòjiǎolán | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]墨角兰[/Speechword] |
| Mint | 薄荷 | Bòhe | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]薄荷[/Speechword] |
| Oregano | 牛至 | Niúzhì | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]牛至[/Speechword] |
| Parsley | 欧芹 | ōuqín | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]欧芹[/Speechword] |
| Rosemary | 迷迭香 | Mídiéxiāng | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]迷迭香[/Speechword] |
| Thyme | 百里香 | Bǎilǐxiāng | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]百里香[/Speechword] |
| Salt | 盐 | Yán | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]盐[/Speechword] |
| Pepper powder | 胡椒粉 | Hújiāofěn | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]胡椒粉[/Speechword] |
| Cardamom | 小荳蔻 | Xiǎodòukòu | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]小荳蔻[/Speechword] |
| Chili | 辣椒 | Làjiāo | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]辣椒[/Speechword] |
| Chili powder | 辣椒粉 | Làjiāofěn | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]辣椒粉[/Speechword] |
| Cloves | 丁香 | Dīngxiāng | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]丁香[/Speechword] |
| Cumin | 孜然 | Zī rán | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]孜然[/Speechword] |
| Fennel | 小茴香 | Xiǎohuíxiāng | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]小茴香[/Speechword] |
| Fennel Seeds | 茴香籽 | Huí xiāng zǐ | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]茴香籽[/Speechword] |
| Nutmeg | 肉荳蔻 | Ròudòukòu | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]肉荳蔻[/Speechword] |
| Sesame Seeds | 芝麻 | Zhī ma | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]芝麻[/Speechword] |
| Star Anise | 八角 | Bājiǎo | [Speechword voice=”Chinese Male” isinline]八角[/Speechword] |
Know Your Chinese Ingredients Essentials
Chinese food is among the most popular cuisines in the world, and it’s no wonder why. It’s delicious, filling, and has a whole lot of variety!
But if you want to get into it—and who doesn’t?—you’ll need to learn some new words. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating.
With these ten essentials for Chinese food ingredients, you’ll be well on your way to being able to talk about Chinese cuisine like a pro.
Want to learn more Chinese vocabulary? Check out the Ling app now!
Learn Chinese With The Ling App
Ling is the app for you if you’re looking for the perfect opportunity to learn Chinese. It’s fun and easy to use and gives you the tools you need to master the language.
With more than 2000 lessons and fun quizzes, Ling gives you the resources to learn Chinese.
The app is designed for beginners and intermediate learners, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to learn a new language.
So what are you waiting for?
Download the app from the App Store or Play Store, and then get started now!
