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How
to read a Chinese menu
Chinese
simply choose chopsticks as their tableware rather than knife and fork
since
Chinese people, under cultivation of Confucianism, consider
knife and fork
bearing sort of violence, like cold weapons. However, chopsticks
reflect
gentleness and benevolence, the main moral teaching of Confucianism.
You really
have to master the art of using chopsticks if you visit China. In every
restaurant, you will be provided with chopsticks instead of forks and
knives.
Don't be frightened. They are easy to use. Use your thumb and the
fourth finger
to grip one stick and your forefinger and middle finger to grip and
control the
other stick. After practicing a while, you will be able to pick up
pieces of
food. If you are able to pick up a bean with chopsticks, this means
that you
have "graduated".
If you cannot use them, you can
always ask for fork
and knife in a tourist restaurant. But in ordinary restaurants, you may
be told
that they do not have them. If you are worried about it, take your own
small
folk with you.
(china.com.cn)
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How to read a Chinese menu
These
are a few extracts from learning Chinese on www.china.org.cn/e-learning/34/dish.htm
| gōng
bào jī dīng |
| 1 宫 爆 鸡 丁 |
| Stir-fried diced chicken with
chilli and peanuts |
| hóng
shāo pái gǔ |
| 2 红 烧 排 骨 |
| Pork ribs in Brown Sauce |
| hǔ
pí jiān jiāo |
| 3 虎 皮 尖 椒 |
| Tiger-skin green peppers |
| sōng
rén yù mĭ |
| 4
松 仁 玉 米 |
| Pine
nuts with sweet corn |
| pí
dàn dòu fu |
| 5 皮 蛋 豆 腐 |
| Tofu mixed with salted duck eggs |
| táng
cù ǒu piàn |
| 6
糖 醋 藕 片 |
| Sweet
and sour lotus root slices |
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| liáng
bàn qié ní |
| 1
凉 拌 茄 泥 |
| Mashed
eggplant in sauce |
| táng
cù lĭ yú |
| 2 糖 醋 鲤 鱼 |
| Carp in sweet and sour sauce |
| yú
xiāng ròu sī |
| 3 鱼 香 肉 丝 |
| Fish-flavored shredded pork |
| qīng
zhēng páng xiè |
| 4 清 蒸 螃 蟹 |
| Steamed crabs |
| má
pó dòu fu |
| 5
麻 婆 豆 腐 |
| Stir-fired
bean curd in spicy sauce |
| tiĕ
băn niú liǔ |
| 6 铁 板 牛 柳 |
| Beef with ginger and scallions on
a hot plate |
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Lesson 3
|
| hóng
shāo ròu |
| 1 红 烧 肉 |
| Braised pork with soy sauce |
| huí
guō ròu |
| 2 回 锅 肉 |
| Stir-fried pork slices in hot sauce |
| xiāng
sū jī |
| 3 香 酥 鸡 |
| Crispy fried chicken |
| bái
zhăn jī |
| 4 白 斩 鸡 |
| Tender-boiled chicken with soy
sauce |
| yán
shuĭ yā |
| 5 盐 水 鸭 |
| Salted duck |
| shuĭ
zhǔ yú |
| 6 水 煮 鱼 |
| Boiled fish fillet in spicy
Sichuan sauce |
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