Word: 菜 (cài)

一场大雨把刚种的菜糟蹋了。

Yìcháng dàyǔ bǎ gāng zhǒng de cài zāotàle.

A heavy rain ruined the vegetables we had just planted.

一鼓作气把这些菜吃完吧！

Yìgǔzuòqì bǎ zhèxiē cài chī wán ba!

Let's finish all these dishes in one go!

不愧是名店，这菜真好吃！

Búkuì shì míng diàn, zhè cài zhēn hǎochī!

It deserves its reputation as a famous restaurant, this dish is delicious!

中国菜不比法国菜差。

Zhōngguó cài bù bǐ Fǎguó cài chà.

Chinese food is no less nice than French food is.

主人用美酒好菜款待客人。

Zhǔrén yòng měijiǔ hǎo cài kuǎndài kèrén.

The host entertained his guests with fine wine and good food.

今天妈妈做了很多菜。

Jīntiān māma zuòle hěn duō cài.

Mum cooked a lot of dishes today.

今天我妈妈做了很多菜。

Jīntiān wǒ māma zuòle hěn duō cài.

My mum has made many dishes today.

他什么菜都爱吃，唯独不吃香菜。

Tā shénme cài dōu ài chī, wéidú bùchī xiāngcài.

He loves all kinds of dishes, except he won't eat cilantro.

他做的菜可以媲美饭店。

Tā zuò de cài kěyǐ pìměi fàndiàn.

The food he cooks can rival a restaurant's.

他切菜的动作很熟练。

Tā qiē cài de dòngzuò hěn shúliàn.

He is very practiced at chopping vegetables.

他已经吃过这种菜。

Tā yǐjīng chīguo zhèzhǒng cài.

He's had this kind of dish before.

他抱怨菜的味道不好。

Tā bàoyuàn cài de wèidao bù hǎo.

He complained of the dish tasting bad.

他问我是否喜欢中国菜。

Tā wèn wǒ shìfǒu xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.

He asked if I liked Chinese food.

但我有能力烧得好菜。

Dàn wǒ yǒu nénglì shāo de hǎo cài.

But I am able to cook well.

你们有什么菜？

Nǐmen yǒu shénme cài?

What kind of food do you have?

你们这儿什么菜最有特色？

Nǐmen zhèr shénme cài zuì yǒu tèsè?

What's your most special dish?

你公婆喜欢吃什么菜？

Nǐ gōngpó xǐhuan chī shénme cài?

What kind of food do your parents-in-law like?

你又要吐槽我做的菜吗？

Nǐ yòu yào tùcáo wǒ zuò de cài ma?

Are you going to tease me about my cooking again?

你喜欢中国菜吗？

Nǐ xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài ma?

Do you like Chinese food?

你喜欢为家人做什么菜？

Nǐ xǐhuan wèi jiārén zuò shénme cài?

What's a dish you enjoy for your family?

你喜欢印度菜吗？

Nǐ xǐhuan Yìndù cài ma?

Do you like Indian food?

你喜欢吃什么菜？

Nǐ xǐhuan chī shénme cài?

What vegetables do you like to eat?

你喜欢日本菜吗？

Nǐ xǐhuan Rìběn cài ma?

Do you like Japanese food?

你喜欢西班牙菜吗？

Nǐ xǐhuan Xībānyá cài ma?

Do you like Spanish cuisine?

你喜欢酸甜口味的菜吗？

Nǐ xǐhuan suāntián kǒuwèi de cài ma?

Do you like dishes with a sweet and sour flavor?

你尝尝这道菜，风味很特别。

Nǐ cháng cháng zhè dào cài, fēngwèi hěn tèbié.

Try this dish, it has a very distinctive flavor.

你知道做这道菜的顺序吗？

Nǐ zhīdào zuò zhè dào cài de shùnxù ma?

Do you know the sequence of steps for making this dish?

做好菜有什么奥秘吗？

Zuò hǎo cài yǒu shénme àomì ma?

Is there any secret to cooking good food?

做这道菜少不了辣椒。

Zuò zhè dào cài shàobùliǎo làjiāo.

You can't make this dish without chili peppers.

做这道菜要放什么调料？

Zuò zhè dào cài yào fàng shénme tiáoliào?

What seasoning should I put in this dish?

别对着菜说话，会有口水。

Bié duì zhe cài shuōhuà, huì yǒu kǒushuǐ.

Don't talk over the food, or saliva will get on it.

剜到篮里就是菜

wān dào lán li jiùshì cài

whatever gets dug into the basket is a vegetable

剩这么多菜，扔了真可惜。

Shèng zhème duō cài, rēngle zhēn kěxī.

With this much food left, it's a waste to throw it away.

厨师每天准备不同的菜。

Chúshī měitiān zhǔnbèi bùtóng de cài.

The cook prepares different dishes every day.

台湾菜比印度菜口味淡。

Táiwān cài bǐ Yìndù cài kǒuwèi dàn.

Taiwanese food is milder than Indian food.

吃中国菜要用什么餐具？

Chī Zhōngguó cài yào yòng shénme cānjù?

What tableware do you use to eat Chinese food?

吃完潮州菜，再喝功夫茶。

Chī wán Cháozhōu cài, zài hē gōngfuchá.

After finishing the Chaozhou dishes, we'll have gongfu tea.

吃苦菜，莫吃根；交朋友，莫忘恩

chīkǔ cài, mò chī gēn; jiāopéngyou, mò wàng'ēn

when eating bitter greens, don't eat the root; when making friends, don't forget kindness

吃菜要吃心儿，听话要听音儿

chī cài yào chī xīn ér, tīnghuà yào tīng yīn ér

when eating greens, eat the heart; when listening, listen for the tone

吃酒不吃菜，必定醉得快

chī jiǔ bùchī cài, bìdìng zuì de kuài

drink wine without eating food and you'll surely get drunk fast

嗯，这个菜做得真不错！

Ń, zhège cài zuò de zhēn búcuò!

Mm, this dish is really good!

坦白说，这个菜太咸了。

Tǎnbái shuō, zhège cài tài Xián le.

To be frank, this dish is too salty.

大锅饭，小锅菜

dàguōfàn, xiǎo guō cài

big-pot rice, small-pot dishes

她切菜时不慎划破了手指。

Tā qiē cài shí búshèn huápòle shǒuzhǐ.

She carelessly cut her finger while chopping vegetables.

她在花园里种了一些菜。

Tā zài huāyuán lǐ zhǒng le yìxiē cài.

She seeded vegetables in her garden.

她煮菜不加盐。

Tā zhǔ cài bù jiā yán.

She doesn't use salt when cooking.

客人一直恭维我妈妈做的菜。

Kèrén yìzhí gōngwei wǒ māma zuò de cài.

The guest kept praising the dishes my mom made.

客人们尝了这道菜，都赞不绝口。

Kèrénmen chángle zhè dào cài, dōu zànbùjuékǒu.

The guests tried this dish and all praised it to the skies.

客人称赞菜很好吃。

Kèrén chēngzàn cài hěn hǎochī.

The guests praised the food as delicious.

怪不得这家店人多，菜真好吃。

Guàibùde zhè jiā diàn rén duō, cài zhēn hǎochī.

So that's why this restaurant is busy. The food is really good.

您在做什么菜？

Nín zài zuò shénme cài?

What meal are you making?

我从来没有吃过中国菜。

Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu chīguo Zhōngguó cài.

I've never tried Chinese food.

我从来没有吃过中菜。

Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu chīguo zhōng cài.

I've never had Chinese food.

我做的最拿手的菜是烧开水。

Wǒ zuò de zuì náshǒu de cài shì shāo kāishuǐ.

The best dish I can cook is boiling water.

我喜欢很辣的菜。

Wǒ xǐhuan hěn là de cài.

I like spicy food.

我在考虑我晚饭做什么菜。

Wǒ zài kǎolǜ wǒ wǎnfàn zuò shénme cài.

I'm wondering what to cook for dinner.

我妈妈最近只吃低脂的菜。

Wǒ māma zuìjìn zhǐ chī dīzhī de cài.

My mom has been eating only low-fat dishes lately.

我很喜欢吃辣菜。

Wǒ hěn xǐhuan chī là cài.

I really like eating spicy food.

我想吃法国菜。

Wǒ xiǎng chī Fǎguó cài.

I want to eat French cuisine.

我想尝尝当地的特色菜。

Wǒ xiǎng cháng cháng dāngdì de tèsè cài.

I'd like to try the local specialty dishes.

我所吃的菜都是自然的。

Wǒ suǒ chī de cài dōu shì zìrán de.

The food I eat is all natural.

我爸爸最拿手的菜是红烧鱼。

Wǒ bàba zuì náshǒu de cài shì hóngshāo yú.

My dad's best dish is red-braised fish.

我爸爸能做一手好菜，我很自豪。

Wǒ bàba néng zuò yìshǒu hǎo cài, wǒ hěn zìháo.

I'm proud that my father is a good cook.

我真的很喜欢法国菜。

Wǒ zhēnde hěn xǐhuan Fǎguó cài.

I really like French cooking.

我继母做的菜特别好吃。

Wǒ jìmǔ zuò de cài tèbié hǎochī.

The food my stepmother cooks is especially delicious.

房东用最好的菜款待客人。

Fángdōng yòng zuìhǎo de cài kuǎndài kèrén.

The landlord treated his guests to the best dishes.

拾到篮里就是菜

shí dào lán li jiùshì cài

whatever you pick up into the basket is vegetables

早饭的时候你最喜欢什么菜？

Zǎofàn de shíhou nǐ zuì xǐhuan shénme cài?

What's your favorite breakfast food?

春节你们家会做什么菜？

Chūnjié nǐmen jiā huì zuò shénme cài?

What dishes does your family make for Spring Festival?

是日本菜吗？

Shì Rìběn cài ma?

Is it Japanese food?

每次他来这里点一样的菜。

Měicì tā lái zhèlǐ diǎn yíyàng de cài.

Every time he comes here, he orders the same dish.

没有什么比你做的菜更好吃了。

Méiyǒu shénme bǐ nǐ zuò de cài gèng hǎochīle.

Nothing is so tasty as the dish you make.

没牙的老太婆吃豆腐，正是可口的菜

méi yá de lǎotàipó chīdòufu, zhèngshì kěkǒu de cài

a toothless old woman eating tofu: just the right dish

菜价每天都在浮动。

Cài jià měitiān dōu zài fúdòng.

Vegetable prices fluctuate every day.

菜太咸了，吃完很口渴。

Cài tài Xián le, chī wán hěn kǒukě.

The food was too salty, and I was really thirsty after eating it.

菜碟舀水，一眼看到底

cài dié yǎoshuǐ, yì yǎnkàn dàodǐ

Scooping water with a vegetable saucer: you see the bottom at a glance

菜被他吃得一干二净。

Cài bèi tā chī de yìgān'èrjìng.

He ate up every bit of the food.

菜被霜打了，叶子都黄了。

Cài bèi shuāng dǎle, yèzi dōu huángle.

The vegetables were hit by frost, and the leaves have all turned yellow.

菜里放点醋，味道会更好。

Cài lǐ fàng diǎn cù, wèidao huì gèng hǎo.

Add a little vinegar to the dish and it will taste better.

菜里有头发，我要向经理投诉。

Cài lǐ yǒu tóufa, wǒ yào xiàng jīnglǐ tóusù.

There's a hair in the food, so I'm going to complain to the manager.

菜里的盐含量不能太高。

Cài lǐ de yán hánliàng bùnéng tài gāo.

The amount of salt in the dishes can't be too high.

菜里盐放得过量，就太咸了。

Cài lǐ yán fàng de guòliàng, jiù tài Xián le.

If you put in too much salt, the dish is too salty.

菜里盐的含量不能太高。

Cài lǐ yán de hánliàng bùnéng tài gāo.

The salt content in the food shouldn't be too high.

请先为他上菜。

Qǐng xiān wèi tā shàng cài.

Please serve him his meal first.

请把菜拿过来。

Qǐng bǎ cài ná guòlái.

Please bring the food over.

请用公筷给客人夹菜。

Qǐng yòng gōngkuài gěi kèrén jiā cài.

Please use the serving chopsticks to put food on the guests' plates.

谢谢您的宴请，菜真丰盛！

Xièxie nín de yànqǐng, cài zhēn fēngshèng!

Thank you for inviting us to dinner. The food was so abundant!

足不出户，你也能买到菜。

Zúbùchūhù, nǐ yě néng mǎi dào cài.

You can buy groceries without ever leaving your home.

过年的菜总是很丰盛。

Guònián de cài zǒngshì hěn fēngshèng.

The food at New Year is always lavish.

这两家餐厅的菜大同小异。

Zhè liǎng jiā cāntīng de cài dàtóngxiǎoyì.

The dishes at these two restaurants are virtually the same.

这个沙拉里有什么菜？

Zhège shālā lǐ yǒu shénme cài?

What vegetables are in this salad?

这个菜是怎么做的？

Zhège cài shì zěnme zuò de?

How is this dish made? ⇒ What is it that this dish is made with?

这么多菜，你吃得了吗？

Zhème duō cài, nǐ chī de liǎo ma?

There's so much food. Can you eat it all?

这家小店的菜并不逊色。

Zhè jiā xiǎodiàn de cài bìng bú xùnsè.

The food at this little restaurant is in no way inferior.

这家店的菜好吃又平价。

Zhè jiā diàn de cài hǎochī yòu píngjià.

The food at this place is tasty and reasonably priced.

这家餐厅的菜很有本土特色。

Zhè jiā cāntīng de cài hěn yǒu běntǔ tèsè.

The dishes at this restaurant have a strong local flavor.

这家餐厅的菜还凑合。

Zhè jiā cāntīng de cài hái còuhe.

The food at this restaurant is passable.

这种菜叫作什么名字？

Zhèzhǒng cài jiàozuò shénme míngzi?

What is this dish called?

这道菜堪称本店一绝。

Zhè dào cài kānchēng běn diàn yì jué.

This dish can be said to be the restaurant's specialty.

这道菜太麻辣了，我不吃。

Zhè dào cài tài málà le, wǒ bùchī.

This dish is too hot and numbing, so I won't eat it.