Mandarin Chinese: Asking About Regional Spices in a Local Market
Learn to ask 'What spices are common here?' in Mandarin and understand answers about regional spice staples, using the pattern 这里…常用什么…?
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you travel or live in a Chinese-speaking region, asking about local spices helps you understand the area's food culture. This lesson teaches you to ask 'What spices are common here?' and to name common regional spices. You will learn the key question pattern, five essential phrases, and how to hold a short conversation at a market or with a local cook. The focus is on regional staples, not general ingredients like vegetables or meat. By the end, you can ask about and understand which spices are typical in a specific place.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What spices are common here?' in Mandarin.
- name at least five regional spices in Mandarin.
- understand and respond to simple questions about local spice use.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这里常用什么香料？
What spices are commonly used here?
Zhèlǐ cháng yòng shénme xiāngliào?
General question to ask about common spices in a region. Use 常用 (cháng yòng) for 'commonly used'.
本地特产香料是什么？
What are the local specialty spices?
Běndì tèchǎn xiāngliào shì shénme?
Use 本地 (běndì) for 'local' and 特产 (tèchǎn) for 'specialty product' to ask about regional staples.
花椒
Sichuan peppercorn
huājiāo
A key spice in Sichuan and other western regions. It has a numbing flavor.
八角
star anise
bājiǎo
Common in braised dishes across China, especially in the north and east.
孜然
cumin
zīrán
Widely used in northwestern Chinese and Central Asian cooking, often with lamb.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about common spices in a place, use: 这里 + 常用 + 什么 + 香料？ (Zhèlǐ cháng yòng shénme xiāngliào?) meaning 'What spices are commonly used here?' You can replace 这里 with a specific place, e.g., 四川常用什么香料？ (Sìchuān cháng yòng shénme xiāngliào?) 'What spices are commonly used in Sichuan?' To ask about local specialty spices, use: 本地特产香料是什么？ (Běndì tèchǎn xiāngliào shì shénme?) 'What are the local specialty spices?' The pattern 常用 (cháng yòng) is a verb phrase meaning 'often use', and 特产 (tèchǎn) means 'specialty product'. Note that 香料 (xiāngliào) covers spices and aromatic seasonings.
When to use it
Use these questions when you want to learn about regional cooking, such as at a market, in a restaurant, or with a home cook. For example, if you are in Sichuan, you might ask: 四川常用什么香料？ (Sìchuān cháng yòng shénme xiāngliào?) The answer might be: 花椒和辣椒。 (Huājiāo hé làjiāo.) 'Sichuan peppercorn and chili.' In the northwest, you might hear 孜然 (zīrán) 'cumin'. Avoid asking 这里有什么调料？ (Zhèlǐ yǒu shénme tiáoliào?) 'What seasonings are here?' because 调料 (tiáoliào) is broader and includes sauces and condiments. Stick to 香料 (xiāngliào) for spices.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
请问，这里常用什么香料？
Excuse me, what spices are commonly used here?Qǐngwèn, zhèlǐ cháng yòng shénme xiāngliào?我们这里常用花椒和八角。
We commonly use Sichuan peppercorn and star anise here.Wǒmen zhèlǐ cháng yòng huājiāo hé bājiǎo.本地特产香料是什么？
What are the local specialty spices?Běndì tèchǎn xiāngliào shì shénme?本地特产是花椒，又香又麻。
The local specialty is Sichuan peppercorn, fragrant and numbing.Běndì tèchǎn shì huājiāo, yòu xiāng yòu má.A little context goes a long way
In China, spice use varies greatly by region. Sichuan and Hunan are known for spicy and numbing flavors, while northern and eastern cuisines often use star anise, cinnamon, and fennel in braises. When asking about local spices, it's polite to show interest in regional food culture. Avoid assuming all Chinese food is spicy; instead, ask open-ended questions like 这里常用什么香料？ to learn about local preferences.
One thing to watch for
Using 调料 (tiáoliào) when you mean 'spices'.
Try this instead: 调料 (tiáoliào) refers to all seasonings, including soy sauce, vinegar, and salt. For spices specifically, use 香料 (xiāngliào). For example, ask 这里常用什么香料？ not 这里常用什么调料？ if you want to know about spices like 花椒 (huājiāo) or 孜然 (zīrán).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What spices are commonly used here?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
这里常用什么香料？
This uses the pattern 这里 + 常用 + 什么 + 香料. It is the most direct way to ask about common spices in a place. You could also say 这里常用哪些香料？ (Zhèlǐ cháng yòng nǎxiē xiāngliào?) with similar meaning.
2Name two spices that are common in Sichuan cuisine.
Show a sample answer
花椒和辣椒。
花椒 (huājiāo) 'Sichuan peppercorn' and 辣椒 (làjiāo) 'chili' are staples in Sichuan cooking. Other answers like 八角 (bājiǎo) 'star anise' or 姜 (jiāng) 'ginger' are also used, but 花椒 and 辣椒 are most characteristic.
3What is the difference between 香料 and 调料?
Show a sample answer
香料 means 'spices', while 调料 means 'seasonings' in general, including sauces and condiments.
香料 (xiāngliào) refers to aromatic spices like 花椒, 八角, 孜然. 调料 (tiáoliào) is broader and includes 酱油 (jiàngyóu) 'soy sauce', 醋 (cù) 'vinegar', etc. Using the right term helps you get the information you want.
To ask about regional spices, use 这里常用什么香料？ (Zhèlǐ cháng yòng shénme xiāngliào?) and listen for names like 花椒, 八角, and 孜然. Remember that 香料 is for spices, while 调料 covers all seasonings.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr