Learn Chinese Cooking Verbs: chop, boil, fry, bake, mix
Master five essential Chinese cooking verbs and use them in simple sentences like 'I chop the onions'. Perfect for elementary learners who want to talk about cooking actions.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn five common Chinese verbs for cooking actions: chop, boil, fry, bake, and mix. Unlike lessons that focus on naming foods, this lesson focuses on the actions you perform in the kitchen. You will learn how to say simple sentences like 'I chop the onions' using the pattern '我 + verb + object'. This pattern is straightforward because Chinese verbs do not change form based on the subject. You will also learn the names of some basic ingredients to use as objects. By the end, you will be able to describe basic cooking steps in Chinese.
By the end, you can…
- say and understand five cooking verbs in Mandarin Chinese.
- form simple sentences like 'I chop the onions' using the pattern 我 + verb + object.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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切
chop / cut
qiē
Used for cutting ingredients into pieces. Example: 切洋葱 (qiē yángcōng) 'chop onions'.
煮
boil / cook in water
zhǔ
Used for boiling foods like eggs, noodles, or dumplings. Example: 煮鸡蛋 (zhǔ jīdàn) 'boil eggs'.
炒
fry / stir-fry
chǎo
Used for stir-frying in a wok with oil. Example: 炒饭 (chǎo fàn) 'fried rice'.
烤
bake / roast / grill
kǎo
Used for baking or roasting in an oven or over a fire. Example: 烤面包 (kǎo miànbāo) 'bake bread'.
拌
mix / stir
bàn
Used for mixing ingredients together, like in a salad. Example: 拌沙拉 (bàn shālā) 'mix salad'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say 'I [verb] the [object]' in Chinese, use the pattern: 我 + verb + object. For example, 我切洋葱 (wǒ qiē yángcōng) means 'I chop the onions'. Chinese verbs do not change according to the subject, so 我切, 你切, 他切 all use the same verb form. There is no need for articles like 'the' or 'a' in Chinese. The object directly follows the verb. You can replace the object with other ingredients: 我煮鸡蛋 (wǒ zhǔ jīdàn) 'I boil eggs', 我炒饭 (wǒ chǎo fàn) 'I fry rice', 我烤面包 (wǒ kǎo miànbāo) 'I bake bread', 我拌沙拉 (wǒ bàn shālā) 'I mix salad'.
When to use it
Use these verbs when you want to describe cooking actions. They are common in recipes, cooking shows, and daily conversations about preparing food. For example, if someone asks 你在做什么？ (nǐ zài zuò shénme?) 'What are you doing?', you can answer 我切洋葱 (wǒ qiē yángcōng) 'I am chopping onions'. Note that Chinese does not have a separate present continuous tense; the same verb form is used for both simple present and present continuous. Context or the word 在 (zài) before the verb can indicate ongoing action. For instance, 我在切洋葱 (wǒ zài qiē yángcōng) explicitly means 'I am chopping onions right now'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你在做什么？
What are you doing?nǐ zài zuò shénme?我切洋葱。
I am chopping onions.wǒ qiē yángcōng.然后呢？
And then?ránhòu ne?我炒洋葱。
I stir-fry the onions.wǒ chǎo yángcōng.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese cooking, the verb 炒 (chǎo) is extremely common and often refers to stir-frying, a technique that is central to many regional cuisines. When you say 我炒..., it usually implies using a wok and oil. For boiling, 煮 (zhǔ) is used for foods cooked in water, while 烤 (kǎo) is used for oven-baking or roasting. These verbs are versatile and can be used with many ingredients. It's also common to combine actions in sequence, like 先切洋葱，再炒 (xiān qiē yángcōng, zài chǎo) 'first chop the onions, then stir-fry'.
One thing to watch for
Adding 'the' or 'a' before the object, like saying 我切这个洋葱 (wǒ qiē zhège yángcōng) when you just mean 'I chop onions' in general.
Try this instead: In Chinese, you usually omit articles. To say 'I chop the onions', simply say 我切洋葱 (wǒ qiē yángcōng). If you need to specify 'this' or 'that', use 这个 (zhège) or 那个 (nàge), but it's not required.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I boil eggs' in Chinese?
Show a sample answer
我煮鸡蛋。
The verb 煮 (zhǔ) means 'boil', and 鸡蛋 (jīdàn) means 'eggs'. The pattern 我 + verb + object is used. You could also say 我煮蛋 (wǒ zhǔ dàn) but 鸡蛋 is more specific.
2What is the Chinese verb for 'mix'?
Show a sample answer
拌
拌 (bàn) means 'mix' or 'stir'. It is used for mixing ingredients like salads. For example, 拌沙拉 (bàn shālā) 'mix salad'.
3Translate: 'I bake bread.'
Show a sample answer
我烤面包。
烤 (kǎo) means 'bake' or 'roast', and 面包 (miànbāo) means 'bread'. The sentence follows the basic pattern. You could also say 我烤面包 (wǒ kǎo miànbāo) without any article.
Remember the pattern 我 + verb + object to talk about cooking actions. Practice with the five verbs: 切 (qiē), 煮 (zhǔ), 炒 (chǎo), 烤 (kǎo), 拌 (bàn).
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