Cooking Chinese vocabulary: Outside HSK

切完肉，请把砧板洗干净。

Qiē wán ròu, qǐng bǎ zhēnbǎn xǐ gānjìng.

After cutting the meat, please wash the chopping board clean.

砧板上的蚂蚁，刀下找吃的

zhēnbǎn shàng de mǎyǐ, dāo xià zhǎo chī de

an ant on a chopping board: looking for food under the knife

新买的炒锅要先洗干净。

Xīn mǎi de chǎoguō yào xiān xǐ gānjìng.

A newly bought wok has to be washed clean first.

炒锅烧热以后，再倒进一点油。

Chǎoguō shāo rè yǐhòu, zài dào jìn yìdiǎn yóu.

Once the wok is hot, pour in a little oil.

蒸笼里的包子熟了吗？

Zhēnglóng lǐ de bāozi shúle ma?

Are the buns in the steamer ready?

厨房里的蒸笼,经常受汽

chúfáng lǐ de zhēnglóng,jīngcháng shòu qì

the steamer in the kitchen: constantly takes steam

电饭煲里的饭还热着呢。

Diànfànbāo lǐ de fàn hái rè zhe ne.

The rice in the rice cooker is still warm.

电饭煲里的米饭已经煮好了。

Diànfànbāo lǐ de mǐfàn yǐjīng zhǔ hǎole.

The rice in the rice cooker is already done.

凉拌黄瓜里要加几滴香油。

Liángbàn huángguā lǐ yào jiā jǐ dī xiāngyóu.

You need to add a few drops of sesame oil to the cucumber salad.

这盘菜是用醋和蒜凉拌的。

Zhè páncài shì yòng cù hé suàn liángbàn de.

This dish is dressed cold with vinegar and garlic.

你想吃红烧鲤鱼还是蒸鱼？

Nǐ xiǎng chī hóngshāo lǐyú háishi zhēng yú?

Would you like braised carp or steamed fish?

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.

青菜要先用开水焯一下。

Qīngcài yào xiān yòng kāishuǐ zhuō yíxià.

Blanch the greens in boiling water first.

肉焯一下，可以去掉血水吗？

Ròu zhuō yíxià, kěyǐ qùdiào xuèshuǐ ma?

Can blanching the meat briefly get rid of the blood?

大火开锅，小火焖饭

dàhuǒ kāiguō, xiǎohuǒ mèn fàn

high heat to boil the pot, low heat to simmer the rice

米饭要焖多久才会熟？

Mǐfàn yào mèn duōjiǔ cái huì shú?

How long does the rice need to steam covered before it's cooked?

爆炒鹅卵石，不进油盐

bàochǎo éluǎnshí, bú jìn yóu yán

stir-frying pebbles over high heat: oil and salt won't go in

这道菜要用大火爆炒。

Zhè dào cài yào yòng dàhuǒ bàochǎo.

This dish needs to be quick-fried over high heat.

汤快好了，可以勾芡了。

Tāng kuài hǎole, kěyǐ gōuqiànle.

The soup is almost done, so you can thicken it now.

勾芡的时候，水要慢慢倒。

Gōuqiàn de shíhou, shuǐ yào mànmàn dào.

When thickening with starch, pour the starch water in slowly.

练好刀工，要多切土豆。

Liàn hǎo dāogōng, yào duō qiē tǔdòu.

To improve your knife skills, cut lots of potatoes.

切丝要看刀工，我还不行。

Qiē sī yào kàn dāogōng, wǒ hái bùxíng.

Cutting shreds takes knife skills, and I'm not there yet.

砂锅很烫，请小心拿！

Shāguō hěn tàng, qǐng xiǎoxīn ná!

The earthenware pot is hot, so please be careful when you pick it up!

天冷，我们点了一个砂锅。

Tiānlěng, wǒmen diǎn le yí gè shāguō.

It was cold, so we ordered a casserole.

汤要用文火慢慢炖。

Tāng yào yòng wénhuǒ mànmàn dùn.

The soup should be stewed slowly over a gentle flame.

用文火煮粥，才不会糊。

Yòng wénhuǒ zhǔ zhōu, cái búhuì hú.

Cook the porridge on a low flame so it won't burn.

脚踩擀面杖，站不稳

jiǎo cǎi gǎnmiànzhàng, zhàn bù wěn

stepping on a rolling pin: can't stand steady

擀面杖当箫吹，缺心眼儿

gǎnmiànzhàng dāng xiāochuī, quēxīnyǎnr

blowing a rolling pin as if it were a flute: lacking holes

高压锅炖牛肉特别快。

Gāoyāguō dùnniúròu tèbié kuài.

Stewing beef in a pressure cooker is especially fast.

用高压锅煮豆子要多久？

Yòng gāoyāguō zhǔ dòuzi yào duōjiǔ?

How long does it take to cook beans in a pressure cooker?

先翻炒几下，再加点盐。

Xiān fānchǎo jǐ xià, zài jiādiǎn yán.

Toss it in the pan a few times first, then add a little salt.

青菜下锅后要快速翻炒。

Qīngcài xiàguō hòu yào kuàisù fānchǎo.

After the greens go into the pan, stir-fry them quickly.

木头锅铲不会刮坏锅。

Mùtou guōchǎn búhuì guā huài guō.

A wooden spatula won't scratch the pan.

这把锅铲太短了，手会烫。

Zhè bǎ guōchǎn tài duǎnle, shǒu huì tàng.

This spatula is too short, so my hand gets burned.

你有大一点的蒸锅吗？

Nǐ yǒu dà yìdiǎn de zhēngguō ma?

Do you have a bigger steamer?

蒸锅里的水快烧干了！

Zhēngguō lǐ de shuǐ kuài shāo gànle!

The water in the steamer is about to boil dry!

煮面时加一点高汤更香。

Zhǔmiàn shí jiā yìdiǎn gāotāng gèng xiāng.

Adding a little stock when cooking noodles makes them more fragrant.

这锅高汤熬了四个小时。

Zhè guō gāotāng áole sì gè xiǎoshí.

This pot of stock has been simmering for four hours.

店里的酱料可以自己调。

Diàn lǐ de jiàngliào kěyǐ zìjǐ diào.

You can mix the sauces yourself at this restaurant.

饺子蘸这种酱料最好吃。

Jiǎozi zhàn zhèzhǒng jiàngliào zuì hǎochī.

Dumplings taste best dipped in this kind of sauce.

厨房里的量杯被谁拿走了？

Chúfáng lǐ de liángbēi bèi shéi názǒule?

Who took the measuring cup from the kitchen?

我家的量杯上有清楚的刻度。

Wǒjiā de liángbēi shàng yǒu qīngchu de kèdù.

The measuring cup in my house has clear markings.

西兰花需要焯水多久？

Xīlánhuā xūyào chāoshuǐ duōjiǔ?

How long does broccoli need to be blanched?

青菜要先焯水，再下锅炒。

Qīngcài yào xiān chāoshuǐ, zài xiàguō chǎo.

Greens should be blanched first, then stir-fried in the pan.