{"id":11800,"date":"2015-11-30T10:30:46","date_gmt":"2015-11-30T14:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/?p=11800"},"modified":"2015-11-30T00:10:18","modified_gmt":"2015-11-30T04:10:18","slug":"common-chinese-menu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/common-chinese-menu\/","title":{"rendered":"A Common Chinese Menu"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When I first got to China with zero Chinese abilities to speak of, I quickly realized that it was going to be difficult to eat. In most restaurants, the menu lacks pictures or English translations. Plus, oftentimes when there is some English on the menu, it is totally incomprehensible. What exactly are you going to be eating when you order &#8220;tom flower elbow sauce&#8221;? Check out our previous post about <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/chinglish-menu\/\">Chinglish Menus<\/a> for more hilariously failed translations.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11802\" style=\"width: 490px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter post-item__attachment\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11802\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11802\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/1-2012-10-19-115237.jpg\" alt=\"WTF?\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/1-2012-10-19-115237.jpg 480w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/1-2012-10-19-115237-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/1-2012-10-19-115237-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-11802\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">WTF?<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Not wanting to get stuck eating at \u8001\u5916-friendly places every day &#8211; Western menus equals expensive &#8211; I knew I was going to have to get to studying local menus pronto. During my first session with a local language partner in Beijing, he asked me what I wanted to study. In response, I pulled out a pile of take-away menus from hole-in-the-wall restaurants in my neighborhood. Before I got to chatting with people, I was going to have to learn how to order food.<\/p>\n<p>For those of you who find yourself in a similar predicament in China, never fear &#8211; we&#8217;re here to help. To get you started, here are some common headings you might see on a Chinese menu. Study them, memorize them, and become good friends with these characters:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>snacks (\u5c0f\u5403 &#8211; xi\u01ceo ch\u012b)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>cold dishes (\u51c9\u83dc &#8211; li\u00e1ng c\u00e0i)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>rice (\u996d &#8211; f\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>dumplings (\u997a\u5b50 &#8211; ji\u01ceo zi)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>noodles (\u9762 &#8211; mi\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>stir-fried dishes (\u7092\u83dc &#8211; ch\u01ceo c\u00e0i)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>soup (\u6c64 &#8211; t\u0101ng)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>specialty (\u7279\u8272 &#8211; t\u00e8 s\u00e8)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>drinks (\u996e\u6599 &#8211; y\u01d0n li\u00e0o)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_9196\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter post-item__attachment\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9196\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9196\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2013\/07\/menu-e1448852702492.jpg\" alt=\"Understanding the menu can be tricky...\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9196\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Understanding the menu can be tricky&#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Now that you&#8217;ve got those down, why not learn a couple of common items from each heading?<\/p>\n<h2>Snacks<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>chicken feet (\u9e21\u722a &#8211; j\u012b zhu\u01ce)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>dried tofu (\u8c46\u8150\u5e72 &#8211; d\u00f2u fu g\u0101n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>steamed bun (\u9992\u5934 &#8211; m\u00e1n tou)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Cold Dishes<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>cucumber salad (\u62cd\u9ec4\u74dc &#8211; p\u0101i hu\u00e1ng gu\u0101)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>&#8220;wood ear&#8221; mushroom salad (\u51c9\u62cc\u6728\u8033 &#8211; li\u00e1ng b\u00e0n m\u00f9&#8217;\u011br)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>shredded potatoes (\u571f\u8c46\u4e1d &#8211; t\u01d4 d\u00f2u s\u012b)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Rice<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>white rice (\u767d\u7c73 &#8211; b\u00e1i m\u01d0)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>egg fried rice (\u86cb\u7092\u996d &#8211; d\u00e0n ch\u01ceo f\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Lanzhou fried rice (\u5170\u5dde\u7092\u996d &#8211; l\u00e1n zh\u014du ch\u01ceo f\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Dumplings<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_11806\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter post-item__attachment\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11806\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11806\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/2-DSC_0344.jpg\" alt=\"Mmm.... dumplings.\" width=\"640\" height=\"429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/2-DSC_0344.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/2-DSC_0344-350x235.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-11806\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mmm&#8230;. dumplings.<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>steamed dumplings (\u84b8\u997a &#8211; zh\u0113ng ji\u01ceo)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>boiled dumplings (\u6c34\u997a &#8211; shu\u01d0 ji\u01ceo)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>fried dumplings (\u714e\u997a &#8211; ji\u0101n ji\u01ceo)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Noodles<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>pulled beef noodles (\u725b\u8089\u62c9\u9762 &#8211; ni\u00fa r\u00f2u l\u0101 mi\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>fried noodles (\u7092\u9762 &#8211; ch\u01ceo mi\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>sliced noodles (\u5200\u524a\u9762 &#8211; d\u0101o xi\u0101o mi\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Stir-Fried Dishes<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_11805\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter post-item__attachment\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11805\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11805\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/1-DSC_0674.jpg\" alt=\"KPC\" width=\"640\" height=\"429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/1-DSC_0674.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/1-DSC_0674-350x235.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-11805\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">KPC<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Kung Pao chicken (\u5bab\u4fdd\u9e21\u4e01 &#8211; g\u014dng b\u01ceo j\u012b d\u012bng)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>fish-scented shredded pork (\u9c7c\u9999\u8089\u4e1d &#8211; y\u00fa xi\u0101ng r\u00f2u s\u012b)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>scrambled eggs and tomatoes (\u897f\u7ea2\u67ff\u7092\u9e21\u86cb &#8211; x\u012b h\u00f3ng sh\u00ec ch\u01ceo j\u012b d\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Soup<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>cabbage soup (\u767d\u83dc\u6c64 &#8211; b\u00e1i c\u00e0i t\u0101ng)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>wonton soup (\u9984\u9968\u6c64 &#8211; h\u00fan t\u00fan t\u0101ng)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>egg drop soup (\u86cb\u82b1\u6c64 &#8211; d\u00e0n hu\u0101 t\u0101ng)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Specialties<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>big plate of chicken (\u5927\u76d8\u9e21 &#8211; d\u00e0 p\u00e1n j\u012b)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>hot pot (\u706b\u9505 &#8211; hu\u01d2 gu\u014d)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Beijing roast duck (\u5317\u4eac\u70e4\u9e2d &#8211; b\u011bi j\u012bng k\u01ceo y\u0101)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Drinks<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>green tea (\u7eff\u8336 &#8211; l\u01dc ch\u00e1)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Coca-Cola (\u53ef\u53e3\u53ef\u4e50 &#8211; k\u011b k\u01d2u k\u011b l\u00e8)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>beer (\u5564\u9152 &#8211; p\u00ed ji\u01d4)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Alright now, young Padawans &#8211; you&#8217;re ready to get out there and eat the local stuff. If the menu seems too complicated, just remember to use the force. Sorry&#8230; Star Wars is coming out soon and I must admit I&#8217;m caught up in the hype. In all seriousness, though, don&#8217;t be that lame foreigner who only eats in the Western-style cafes and McDonald&#8217;s. Eat the real Chinese food while you can in China, because you&#8217;ll miss it the second you get back home and it&#8217;s all egg rolls and sweet &amp; sour chicken again. Trust me, I know from experience!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<img width=\"350\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/2-2012-10-19-120008-350x350.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image tmp-hide-img\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/2-2012-10-19-120008-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/2-2012-10-19-120008-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/11\/2-2012-10-19-120008.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><p>When I first got to China with zero Chinese abilities to speak of, I quickly realized that it was going to be difficult to eat. In most restaurants, the menu lacks pictures or English translations. Plus, oftentimes when there is some English on the menu, it is totally incomprehensible. What exactly are you going to&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"post-item__readmore\"><a class=\"btn btn--md\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/common-chinese-menu\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":11803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[127396,8119,292628,292677,403155,403154,403156,127207],"class_list":["post-11800","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-chinese-cuisine","tag-chinese-food","tag-chinese-menu","tag-common-chinese-dishes","tag-common-chinese-food","tag-common-chinese-menu","tag-how-to-order-chinese-food","tag-real-chinese-food"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/55"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11800"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11809,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11800\/revisions\/11809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}