Mandarin Monday: Essential Taco Vocabulary You Need to Know

      Mandarin Monday is a recurring series designed to enhance your Chinese language skills by introducing enjoyable and practical phrases and characters.

      Our Taco Fest is ready to commence this weekend, on May 3-4 at the National Tennis Center, making it a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with some key taco-related vocabulary. We will explore common fillings and extras and instruct you on how to express that you don’t want something in your taco—particularly beneficial for those who dislike cilantro.

      To start, the word "taco" in Chinese is 塔可 (tǎkě), a simple and clear transliteration that is easy to pronounce. Now, let's delve into the various types of tortillas typically offered for your tacos.

      Corn tortilla: 玉米饼皮 (yùmǐ bǐngpí)

      Flour tortilla: 面粉饼 (miànfěn bǐng) or 小麦饼皮 (xiǎomài bǐngpí)

      Hard shell: 脆皮 (cuìpí)

      Soft shell: 软皮 (ruǎnpí)

      Taco Names

      Instead of directly translating filling names like al pastor or carnitas, most Mexican restaurants in China prefer to translate the name to reflect the main filling ingredient, such as the type of meat and cooking method. For instance, carnitas is often translated as 手撕猪肉塔可 (shǒusī zhūròu tǎkě), which literally means “pulled pork tacos.” Now, let's examine some of the most common fillings and cooking techniques you may find on the menu.

      Common Fillings

      Beef: 牛肉 (niúròu)

      Beef tongue: 牛舌 (niúshé)

      Steak: 牛排 (niúpái)

      Pork: 猪肉 (zhūròu)

      Chicken: 鸡肉 (jīròu)

      Fried fish: 炸鱼 (zháyú)

      Shrimp: 虾 (xiā)

      Vegetarian: 素食 (sùshí)

      Chorizo: 克里索香肠 (kèlǐsuǒ xiāngcháng) or 西班牙香肠 (xībānyá xiāngcháng)

      Cooking Method

      Roasted: 烤 (kǎo)

      Slow-cooked: 慢炖 (màndùn)

      Slow-roasted: 慢火炉 (mànhuǒlú)

      Grilled: 炭烤 (tànkǎo) or 炙烤 (zhìkǎo)

      Pulled: 手撕 (shǒusī)

      Common Garnishes

      In addition to the main filling, tacos are complemented by a variety of tasty garnishes like salsa, pickles, and vegetables to complete this beloved treat. Below are some of the most common garnishes you’re likely to see.

      Salsa: 莎莎 (shāshā)

      Guacamole: 牛油果酱 (niúyóu guǒjiàng)

      Jalapeño: 墨西哥辣椒 (mòxīgē làjiāo)

      Onion: 洋葱 (yángcōng)

      Red onion: 红洋葱 (hóng yángcōng)

      Pickle: 泡 (pào) or 腌 (yān)

      Lime: 青柠檬 (qīng níngméng)

      Cilantro: 香菜 (xiāngcài)

      Avocado: 牛油果 (niúyóuguǒ)

      Sour cream: 酸奶油 (suān nǎiyóu)

      Specifying Your Taco Order

      If you have particular preferences for your taco, here are a few helpful phrases.

      Don’t add: 别放 (bié fàng) / 不要放 (bùyào fàng)

      For a specific ingredient you wish to exclude, you can say “请别放/不要放X” (qǐng bié fàng / bùyào fàng X). For instance, if you dislike cilantro, you can say “请别放香菜” (qǐng bié fàng xiāngcài).

      Add less or more: 少放 (shǎofàng) / 多放 (duōfàng)

      To request less of an ingredient, say “请少放X” (qǐng shǎofàng X), and to request more, say “请多放X” (qǐng duōfàng X). For example, if you appreciate extra spice and want more jalapeños, you can say