Say What You Need for a Simple Dish in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to say what ingredients you need to cook a simple dish in Mandarin, using the pattern 首先，我需要... (shǒuxiān, wǒ xūyào...) and common food words.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you cook, you often need to list ingredients before you start. In Mandarin, a very useful pattern for this is 首先，我需要... (shǒuxiān, wǒ xūyào...), meaning 'First, I need...'. This lesson teaches you to say what you need for a simple dish, such as 西红柿炒鸡蛋 (xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn) 'tomato and egg stir-fry'. You will learn ingredient words, measure words, and how to ask and answer simple questions about recipe preparation. This is different from grocery shopping because the focus is on preparing a dish, not buying items in a store. By the end, you can list ingredients for one simple dish and ask someone what they need.
By the end, you can…
- say 'First, I need...' and list at least three ingredients for a simple dish in Mandarin.
- ask someone what ingredients they need for a dish and understand a simple answer.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
首先，我需要两个西红柿。
First, I need two tomatoes.
shǒuxiān, wǒ xūyào liǎng gè xīhóngshì
Use 首先 to start a sequence. 两个 means 'two' with the general measure word 个.
我需要三个鸡蛋。
I need three eggs.
wǒ xūyào sān gè jīdàn
鸡蛋 means 'egg'. Use 个 as the measure word for eggs.
还需要一点盐。
I also need a little salt.
hái xūyào yīdiǎn yán
还 means 'also' or 'still'. 一点 means 'a little'. 盐 is 'salt'.
你有油吗？
Do you have oil?
nǐ yǒu yóu ma?
Use 有 to ask if someone has something. 吗 makes it a yes/no question.
我们要做什么菜？
What dish are we going to make?
wǒmen yào zuò shénme cài?
做菜 means 'to cook a dish'. 什么 means 'what'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 首先，我需要 + [number + measure word + ingredient] is very useful for listing ingredients. For example, 首先，我需要一个洋葱 (shǒuxiān, wǒ xūyào yī gè yángcōng) 'First, I need one onion'. You can continue with 还需要... (hái xūyào...) 'I also need...' for more items. For example, 还需要两个鸡蛋 (hái xūyào liǎng gè jīdàn) 'I also need two eggs'. Use 一点 (yīdiǎn) for uncountable things like 盐 (yán) 'salt' or 油 (yóu) 'oil': 还需要一点盐 (hái xūyào yīdiǎn yán) 'I also need a little salt'. Remember that Chinese nouns do not change for plural, so 鸡蛋 can mean 'egg' or 'eggs' depending on the number.
When to use it
Use this pattern when you are preparing to cook and want to tell someone what you need. It is common in home cooking and in cooking classes. For example, if you are making 西红柿炒鸡蛋 (xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn) 'tomato and egg stir-fry', you can say: 首先，我需要两个西红柿。还需要三个鸡蛋和一点盐。 (shǒuxiān, wǒ xūyào liǎng gè xīhóngshì. hái xūyào sān gè jīdàn hé yīdiǎn yán.) 'First, I need two tomatoes. I also need three eggs and a little salt.' You can also ask 你需要什么？ (nǐ xūyào shénme?) 'What do you need?' to find out what someone else needs. This pattern is not for shopping; it is for planning a recipe.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
我们要做什么菜？
What dish are we going to make?wǒmen yào zuò shénme cài?我们做西红柿炒鸡蛋。首先，我需要两个西红柿。
We are making tomato and egg stir-fry. First, I need two tomatoes.wǒmen zuò xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn. shǒuxiān, wǒ xūyào liǎng gè xīhóngshì.还需要什么？
What else do you need?hái xūyào shénme?还需要三个鸡蛋和一点盐。你有油吗？
I also need three eggs and a little salt. Do you have oil?hái xūyào sān gè jīdàn hé yīdiǎn yán. nǐ yǒu yóu ma?A little context goes a long way
In Chinese home cooking, ingredients are often listed with measure words, and it is common to ask family members what is available before cooking. Using 首先 (shǒuxiān) to start a list is polite and clear, especially when explaining a recipe to someone. Note that 一点 (yīdiǎn) is used for small amounts of uncountable items, while 个 (gè) is a general measure word for many countable items like eggs and tomatoes.
One thing to watch for
A common mistake is using 二 (èr) instead of 两 (liǎng) before a measure word: 我需要二个西红柿.
Try this instead: Use 两 (liǎng) instead of 二 (èr) before a measure word. Say 我需要两个西红柿 (wǒ xūyào liǎng gè xīhóngshì) 'I need two tomatoes'. 二 is used for counting numbers, but 两 is used with measure words.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'First, I need one onion' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
首先，我需要一个洋葱。
This uses the pattern 首先，我需要 + number + measure word + ingredient. 一个 is correct because 个 is the general measure word for 洋葱.
2What is the Mandarin word for 'egg'?
Show a sample answer
鸡蛋 (jīdàn)
鸡蛋 means 'egg'. It is a common ingredient in simple dishes like tomato and egg stir-fry.
3How do you ask 'Do you have oil?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
你有油吗？
This uses 你有...吗？ to ask if someone has something. 油 means 'oil'. You could also ask 你有没有油？ (nǐ yǒu méiyǒu yóu?) which is equally correct.
Use 首先，我需要... to start listing ingredients for a dish, and 还需要... for more items. Remember to use 两 instead of 二 with measure words.
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