Mandarin Monday is a recurring series designed to help you enhance your Chinese skills by exploring fun and useful phrases and characters.
Have you ever attempted to order something spicy at a Chinese restaurant, only to find that your dish was either spicier or milder than you expected? It can be challenging to determine the heat level of a dish from the Chinese characters.
A misunderstanding can lead to an unfortunate experience. For example, a foreign friend of mine once ordered a dish labeled 微微辣 (wéiwéi là), which means "slightly spicy," thinking it would be quite spicy, but he discovered it was hardly spicy at all! With this in mind and in preparation for our upcoming Hot and Spicy Fest this weekend, let’s take a moment to refresh our Chinese vocabulary related to spicy dishes. From mild to extreme, you'll be equipped to order exactly what you want!
To describe the spiciness level in Chinese cuisine, the character 辣 (là) is utilized. Adverbs are added before the character to convey the intensity of spiciness. For instance, 不辣 (bù là) means "not spicy at all," 微辣 (wēi là) refers to "slightly spicy," 中辣 (zhōng là) means "medium spicy," 重辣 (zhòng là) denotes "really spicy," and 超级辣 (chāojí là) or 变态辣 (biàntài là) describe "extremely spicy."
The term 辛辣 (xīnlà) can be used to depict food with a strong, pungent flavor. Dishes like curry, garlic, and ginger all add a bold, fiery taste to a meal. Additionally, 麻辣 (málà) is typically related to Sichuan cuisine, famous for its numbing spiciness.
If you want to elevate your Chinese and impress your friends, here are some fun phrases to learn. For something incredibly spicy, use the expression 辣到着火 (là dào zháo huǒ), which translates to "so spicy that it feels like your mouth is on fire."
When chopping onions, many people feel a burning sensation that causes their eyes to tear up. In Chinese, this is described as 辣眼睛 (là yǎnjīng). This phrase also has a deeper meaning referring to an eye-watering experience, making it applicable to describe anything uncomfortable or unappealing, like an unattractive movie character.
If you happen to eat something so spicy that it takes your breath away and invigorates you, the phrase 辣翻了 (là fānle) describes that extreme sensation. From ghost peppers to Carolina reapers and Sichuan chili oil, any dish that leaves you wanting more while still reaching for water can be described as 辣翻了. It encapsulates the intensity of heat and the lingering spice on your tongue in just one phrase. Whenever you encounter something too spicy to express, 辣翻了 (là fānle) can perfectly convey your experience.
What's the spiciest dish you've ever had? Share with us in the comments!
The Hot & Spicy Fest will be held at FFC South Square on June 20 from 4 PM to 9 PM and on June 21 and 22 from 11 AM to 9 PM. Standard Early Bird Tickets are RMB 25, Magnet Early Bird Tickets are RMB 35, VIP Tickets are RMB 100, and Standard/On-Site Tickets are RMB 35. You can buy tickets by scanning the QR code in the poster above.
FFC South Square: 北京财富金融中心(FFC)南广场5 Sanhuan Zhonglu, Hujialou Jiedao, Chaoyang District朝阳区呼家楼街道东三环中路5号
READ: Mandarin Monday: All About Chili Peppers
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