--- title: "Chinese Food Names: Dishes, Noodles, Snacks, Desserts, Drinks and Teas in Chinese With Pinyin and Sound" description: "142 Chinese food names, from 北京烤鸭 and 麻婆豆腐 to 小笼包, 煎饼 and 珍珠奶茶: famous dishes, dumplings, noodles, dim sum, street food, snacks, desserts, drinks and teas, each in Chinese with pinyin, what it is and sound, and China’s eight great cuisines from 川菜 to 粤菜." canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-food-names" author: "Mandarin The Wild" --- Free · 142 names # Chinese food names [Print as flashcards](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-flashcards?level=mine&words=%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E7%83%A4%E9%B8%AD%20%E9%BA%BB%E5%A9%86%E8%B1%86%E8%85%90%20%E9%B1%BC%E9%A6%99%E8%82%89%E4%B8%9D%20%E7%BA%A2%E7%83%A7%E8%82%89%20%E5%9B%9E%E9%94%85%E8%82%89%20%E6%B0%B4%E7%85%AE%E9%B1%BC%20%E9%85%B8%E8%8F%9C%E9%B1%BC%20%E4%BA%AC%E9%85%B1%E8%82%89%E4%B8%9D%20%E4%B8%9C%E5%9D%A1%E8%82%89%20%E7%99%BD%E5%88%87%E9%B8%A1%20%E5%8F%89%E7%83%A7%20%E9%94%85%E5%8C%85%E8%82%89%20%E7%8B%AE%E5%AD%90%E5%A4%B4%20%E4%BD%9B%E8%B7%B3%E5%A2%99%20%E8%BE%A3%E5%AD%90%E9%B8%A1%20%E5%A4%AB%E5%A6%BB%E8%82%BA%E7%89%87%20%E9%85%B8%E8%BE%A3%E6%B1%A4%20%E7%81%AB%E9%94%85%20%E5%B0%8F%E9%BE%99%E8%99%BE%20%E9%A5%BA%E5%AD%90%20%E5%8C%85%E5%AD%90%20%E5%B0%8F%E7%AC%BC%E5%8C%85%20%E9%94%85%E8%B4%B4%20%E9%A6%84%E9%A5%A8%20%E7%83%A7%E5%8D%96%20%E6%98%A5%E5%8D%B7%20%E5%8F%89%E7%83%A7%E5%8C%85%20%E9%A6%92%E5%A4%B4%20%E8%8A%B1%E5%8D%B7%20%E9%9D%A2%E6%9D%A1%20%E6%8B%89%E9%9D%A2%20%E7%89%9B%E8%82%89%E9%9D%A2%20%E6%8B%85%E6%8B%85%E9%9D%A2%20%E7%82%B8%E9%85%B1%E9%9D%A2%20%E5%88%80%E5%89%8A%E9%9D%A2%20%E7%83%AD%E5%B9%B2%E9%9D%A2%20%E9%87%8D%E5%BA%86%E5%B0%8F%E9%9D%A2%20%E5%87%89%E9%9D%A2%20%E9%98%B3%E6%98%A5%E9%9D%A2%20%E7%82%92%E9%9D%A2%20%E7%B1%B3%E7%BA%BF%20%E8%BF%87%E6%A1%A5%E7%B1%B3%E7%BA%BF%20%E7%B1%B3%E7%B2%89%20%E6%B2%B3%E7%B2%89%20%E8%9E%BA%E8%9B%B3%E7%B2%89%20%E7%B2%89%E4%B8%9D%20%E7%B2%89%E6%9D%A1%20%E6%96%B9%E4%BE%BF%E9%9D%A2%20%E7%B1%B3%E9%A5%AD%20%E7%82%92%E9%A5%AD%20%E8%9B%8B%E7%82%92%E9%A5%AD%20%E7%B2%A5%20%E8%82%A0%E7%B2%89%20%E5%87%A4%E7%88%AA%20%E8%9B%8B%E6%8C%9E%20%E7%9A%AE%E8%9B%8B%E7%98%A6%E8%82%89%E7%B2%A5%20%E7%85%8E%E9%A5%BC%20%E8%82%89%E5%A4%B9%E9%A6%8D%20%E5%87%89%E7%9A%AE%20%E8%87%AD%E8%B1%86%E8%85%90%20%E9%BA%BB%E8%BE%A3%E7%83%AB%20%E7%BE%8A%E8%82%89%E4%B8%B2%20%E8%B1%86%E6%B5%86%20%E6%B2%B9%E6%9D%A1%20%E7%83%A7%E9%A5%BC%20%E8%91%B1%E6%B2%B9%E9%A5%BC%20%E7%B3%96%E8%91%AB%E8%8A%A6%20%E6%9C%88%E9%A5%BC%20%E6%B1%A4%E5%9C%86%20%E7%B2%BD%E5%AD%90%20%E5%B9%B4%E7%B3%95%20%E9%94%85%E5%BA%95%20%E9%BA%BB%E8%BE%A3%E9%94%85%20%E6%B8%85%E6%B1%A4%20%E8%82%A5%E7%89%9B%20%E8%99%BE%E6%BB%91%20%E5%8D%88%E9%A4%90%E8%82%89%20%E9%87%91%E9%92%88%E8%8F%87%20%E8%B1%86%E8%85%90%E7%9A%AE%20%E9%BA%BB%E9%85%B1%20%E9%A6%99%E6%B2%B9%20%E7%94%9C%E5%93%81%20%E5%8F%8C%E7%9A%AE%E5%A5%B6%20%E8%B1%86%E8%8A%B1%20%E8%8A%8B%E5%9C%86%20%E8%A5%BF%E7%B1%B3%E9%9C%B2%20%E7%BA%A2%E8%B1%86%E6%B1%A4%20%E7%B3%96%E6%B0%B4%20%E9%BE%9F%E8%8B%93%E8%86%8F%20%E5%85%AB%E5%AE%9D%E9%A5%AD%20%E9%A9%B4%E6%89%93%E6%BB%9A%20%E7%BB%BF%E8%B1%86%E7%B3%95%20%E9%BA%BB%E5%9B%A2%20%E7%B3%8D%E7%B2%91%20%E9%9D%92%E5%9B%A2%20%E8%90%A8%E5%85%B6%E9%A9%AC%20%E8%8F%A0%E8%90%9D%E5%8C%85%20%E9%B8%A1%E8%9B%8B%E4%BB%94%20%E6%9D%8F%E4%BB%81%E8%B1%86%E8%85%90%20%E7%93%9C%E5%AD%90%20%E8%8A%B1%E7%94%9F%20%E8%BE%A3%E6%9D%A1%20%E7%89%9B%E8%82%89%E5%B9%B2%20%E9%B8%AD%E8%84%96%20%E8%AF%9D%E6%A2%85%20%E6%9E%9C%E8%84%AF%20%E8%9B%8B%E5%8D%B7%20%E9%85%B8%E6%A2%85%E6%B1%A4%20%E5%87%89%E8%8C%B6%20%E8%B1%86%E5%A5%B6%20%E6%A4%B0%E6%B1%81%20%E9%85%B8%E5%A5%B6%20%E6%B1%BD%E6%B0%B4%20%E5%95%A4%E9%85%92%20%E7%99%BD%E9%85%92%20%E8%8C%85%E5%8F%B0%20%E4%BA%8C%E9%94%85%E5%A4%B4%20%E9%BB%84%E9%85%92%20%E7%BB%8D%E5%85%B4%E9%85%92%20%E7%B1%B3%E9%85%92%20%E7%BB%BF%E8%8C%B6%20%E7%BA%A2%E8%8C%B6%20%E4%B9%8C%E9%BE%99%E8%8C%B6%20%E6%99%AE%E6%B4%B1%E8%8C%B6%20%E9%BE%99%E4%BA%95%E8%8C%B6%20%E9%93%81%E8%A7%82%E9%9F%B3%20%E7%A2%A7%E8%9E%BA%E6%98%A5%20%E5%A4%A7%E7%BA%A2%E8%A2%8D%20%E7%99%BD%E8%8C%B6%20%E8%8C%89%E8%8E%89%E8%8A%B1%E8%8C%B6%20%E8%8F%8A%E8%8A%B1%E8%8C%B6%20%E5%A5%B6%E8%8C%B6%20%E7%8F%8D%E7%8F%A0%E5%A5%B6%E8%8C%B6%20%E5%85%AB%E5%A4%A7%E8%8F%9C%E7%B3%BB%20%E9%B2%81%E8%8F%9C%20%E5%B7%9D%E8%8F%9C%20%E7%B2%A4%E8%8F%9C%20%E8%8B%8F%E8%8F%9C%20%E9%97%BD%E8%8F%9C%20%E6%B9%98%E8%8F%9C%20%E5%BE%BD%E8%8F%9C%20%E8%8F%9C%E7%B3%BB) Speed ## China’s eight great cuisines (八大菜系) | | In Chinese | Its taste | A famous dish | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Shandong | 鲁菜 Lǔcài | Salty and fresh: seafood, clear soups | 糖醋鲤鱼 sweet and sour carp | | Sichuan | 川菜 Chuāncài | Bold, numbing and spicy, 麻辣 | 麻婆豆腐 mapo tofu | | Cantonese | 粤菜 Yuècài | Light and fresh: steaming, roasting, dim sum | 白切鸡 white-cut chicken | | Jiangsu | 苏菜 Sūcài | Delicate and slightly sweet, with fine knife work | 狮子头 lion’s head meatballs | | Fujian | 闽菜 Mǐncài | Light and savoury: soups and seafood | 佛跳墙 Buddha jumps over the wall | | Zhejiang | 浙菜 Zhècài | Fresh, mellow and never greasy | 东坡肉 Dongpo pork | | Hunan | 湘菜 Xiāngcài | Hot and sour, with fresh chili | 剁椒鱼头 fish head with chopped chili | | Anhui | 徽菜 Huīcài | Mountain food: wild herbs, slow braising | 臭鳜鱼 fermented mandarin fish | ## Famous dishes běi北jīng京kǎo烤yā鸭 Peking duck má麻pó婆dòu豆fu腐 mapo tofu (spicy Sichuan tofu dish) yú鱼xiāng香ròu肉sī丝 fish-flavored shredded pork (Sichuan dish) hóng红shāo烧ròu肉 red-braised pork belly huí回guō锅ròu肉 twice-cooked pork (Sichuan dish) shuǐ水zhǔ煮yú鱼 Sichuan boiled fish (in chili oil) suān酸cài菜yú鱼 fish with pickled mustard greens jīng京jiàng酱ròu肉sī丝 shredded pork in sweet bean sauce (Beijing dish) dōng东pō坡ròu肉 Dongpo pork (braised pork belly) bái白qiē切jī鸡 white-cut chicken (poached chicken, Cantonese dish) chā叉shāo烧 char siu; Cantonese barbecued pork guō锅bāo包ròu肉 guobaorou (northeastern sweet and sour fried pork) shī狮zi子tóu头 lion's head (large pork meatball) fó佛tiào跳qiáng墙 Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (Fujian soup) là辣zi子jī鸡 spicy diced chicken with dried chilies fū夫qī妻fèi肺piàn片 sliced beef and offal in chili sauce (Sichuan dish) suān酸là辣tāng汤 hot and sour soup huǒ火guō锅 hot pot xiǎo小lóng龙xiā虾 crayfish ## Dumplings and buns jiǎo饺zi子 dumpling (boiled, crescent-shaped) bāo包zi子 steamed bun (with filling) xiǎo小lóng笼bāo包 xiaolongbao (steamed soup dumpling) guō锅tiē贴 potsticker; pan-fried dumpling hún馄tun饨 wonton; dumpling soup shāo烧mài卖 shumai (steamed dumpling) chūn春juǎn卷 spring roll chā叉shāo烧bāo包 barbecued pork bun mán馒tou头 steamed bun huā花juǎn卷 steamed twisted roll ## Noodles miàn面tiáo条 noodles lā拉miàn面 hand-pulled noodles; ramen niú牛ròu肉miàn面 beef noodles; beef noodle soup dàn担dàn担miàn面 dandan noodles zhá炸jiàng酱miàn面 noodles with soybean paste (zhajiangmian) dāo刀xiāo削miàn面 knife-shaved noodles rè热gān干miàn面 hot dry noodles (Wuhan specialty) chóng重qìng庆xiǎo小miàn面 Chongqing noodles (spicy noodle dish) liáng凉miàn面 cold noodles yáng阳chūn春miàn面 plain noodle soup chǎo炒miàn面 fried noodles; chow mein mǐ米xiàn线 rice noodles guò过qiáo桥mǐ米xiàn线 crossing-the-bridge rice noodles (Yunnan dish) mǐ米fěn粉 rice noodles hé河fěn粉 flat rice noodles; ho fun luó螺sī蛳fěn粉 river snail rice noodles (Liuzhou specialty) fěn粉sī丝 glass noodles; bean vermicelli fěn粉tiáo条 starch noodles; glass noodles fāng方biàn便miàn面 instant noodles ## Rice mǐ米fàn饭 cooked rice chǎo炒fàn饭 fried rice dàn蛋chǎo炒fàn饭 egg fried rice zhōu粥 congee; rice porridge ## Dim sum cháng肠fěn粉 rice noodle roll (Cantonese dim sum) fèng凤zhǎo爪 chicken feet (as food) dàn蛋tà挞 egg tart pí皮dàn蛋shòu瘦ròu肉zhōu粥 congee with preserved egg and lean pork ## Street food and breakfast jiān煎bing饼 thin pancake; jianbing (savory crepe) ròu肉jiā夹mó馍 roujiamo (Shaanxi flatbread stuffed with stewed meat) liáng凉pí皮 liangpi (cold wide noodles) chòu臭dòu豆fu腐 stinky tofu má麻là辣tàng烫 malatang (spicy numbing hot pot snack) yáng羊ròu肉chuàn串 lamb skewer; lamb kebab dòu豆jiāng浆 soy milk yóu油tiáo条 deep-fried dough stick shāo烧bǐng饼 baked sesame flatbread cōng葱yóu油bǐng饼 scallion pancake táng糖hú葫lu芦 candied fruit on a stick (esp. haws) ## Festival foods yuè月bing饼 mooncake tāng汤yuán圆 glutinous rice ball (sweet dumpling in soup) zòng粽zi子 zongzi (sticky rice dumpling wrapped in leaves) nián年gāo糕 New Year rice cake ## Hot pot guō锅dǐ底 bottom of a pot má麻là辣guō锅 spicy numbing hot pot qīng清tāng汤 clear soup; broth féi肥niú牛 fatty beef (thin slices for hotpot) xiā虾huá滑 shrimp paste (for hot pot) wǔ午cān餐ròu肉 luncheon meat; Spam jīn金zhēn针gū菇 enoki mushroom dòu豆fu腐pí皮 tofu skin má麻jiàng酱 sesame paste xiāng香yóu油 sesame oil ## Desserts and sweets tián甜pǐn品 dessert; sweets shuāng双pí皮nǎi奶 double-skin milk pudding dòu豆huā花 tofu pudding; douhua yù芋yuán圆 taro balls (dessert) xī西mǐ米lù露 sago dessert soup hóng红dòu豆tāng汤 red bean soup táng糖shuǐ水 sweet soup (Cantonese dessert) guī龟líng苓gāo膏 turtle jelly (herbal jelly) bā八bǎo宝fàn饭 eight-treasure rice pudding lǘ驴dǎ打gǔn滚 donkey roll (glutinous rice roll with bean paste, Beijing snack) lǜ绿dòu豆gāo糕 mung bean cake má麻tuán团 sesame ball (fried glutinous rice ball) cí糍bā粑 glutinous rice cake qīng青tuán团 qingtuan (green glutinous rice ball eaten at Qingming) sà萨qí其mǎ马 sachima (Manchu fried pastry) bō菠luó萝bāo包 pineapple bun jī鸡dàn蛋zǎi仔 egg waffle (Hong Kong snack) xìng杏rén仁dòu豆fu腐 almond tofu (dessert) ## Snacks guā瓜zǐ子 melon seeds; sunflower seeds (as a snack) huā花shēng生 peanut là辣tiáo条 spicy gluten strip (snack) niú牛ròu肉gān干 beef jerky yā鸭bó脖 duck neck (spicy braised snack) huà话méi梅 preserved plum guǒ果fǔ脯 candied fruit; preserved fruit dàn蛋juǎn卷 egg roll (crisp rolled biscuit) ## Drinks suān酸méi梅tāng汤 sour plum drink liáng凉chá茶 herbal tea (Cantonese cooling tea) dòu豆nǎi奶 soy milk yē椰zhī汁 coconut milk; coconut water suān酸nǎi奶 yogurt qì汽shuǐ水 soda; soft drink pí啤jiǔ酒 beer bái白jiǔ酒 baijiu (Chinese white liquor) máo茅tái台 Moutai (Chinese liquor) èr二guō锅tóu头 erguotou (strong Beijing liquor) huáng黄jiǔ酒 yellow wine (Chinese rice wine) shào绍xīng兴jiǔ酒 Shaoxing rice wine mǐ米jiǔ酒 rice wine ## Teas lǜ绿chá茶 green tea hóng红chá茶 black tea wū乌lóng龙chá茶 oolong tea pǔ普ěr洱chá茶 Pu'er tea lóng龙jǐng井chá茶 Longjing tea (Dragon Well green tea) tiě铁guān观yīn音 Tieguanyin (variety of oolong tea) bì碧luó螺chūn春 Biluochun (green tea from Suzhou) dà大hóng红páo袍 Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe oolong tea) bái白chá茶 white tea mò茉lì莉huā花chá茶 jasmine tea jú菊huā花chá茶 chrysanthemum tea nǎi奶chá茶 milk tea; bubble tea zhēn珍zhū珠nǎi奶chá茶 bubble tea; pearl milk tea ## The eight great cuisines bā八dà大cài菜xì系 the Eight Great Cuisines of China lǔ鲁cài菜 Shandong cuisine chuān川cài菜 Sichuan cuisine yuè粤cài菜 Cantonese cuisine sū苏cài菜 Jiangsu cuisine mǐn闽cài菜 Fujian cuisine xiāng湘cài菜 Hunan cuisine huī徽cài菜 Anhui cuisine cài菜xì系 cuisine; style of cooking ## What are the most famous Chinese dishes? 北京烤鸭 (běijīngkǎoyā, Peking duck), 麻婆豆腐 (mápódòufu, mapo tofu), 小笼包 (xiǎolóngbāo, xiaolongbao) and 火锅 (huǒguō, hot pot) are four that most visitors to China want to try. ## How do you say dumplings in Chinese? 饺子 (jiǎozi, dumpling) are boiled, crescent-shaped dumplings; 包子 (bāozi, steamed bun) are filled steamed buns; 锅贴 (guōtiē, potsticker) are pan-fried; and 馄饨 (húntun, wonton) come in soup. ## What is bubble tea in Chinese? 珍珠奶茶 (zhēnzhūnǎichá, bubble tea): 珍珠 (zhēnzhū) means pearl, for the tapioca balls, and 奶茶 (nǎichá) is milk tea. ## What are the types of Chinese noodles? Wheat noodles are 面 (miàn): 拉面 (lāmiàn, hand-pulled noodles), pulled by hand, 刀削面 (dāoxiāomiàn, knife-shaved noodles), shaved off a block of dough, and 担担面 (dàndànmiàn, dandan noodles). Rice noodles are 粉 (fěn) or 米线 (mǐxiàn): 河粉 (héfěn, flat rice noodles), 米线 (mǐxiàn, rice noodles) and 螺蛳粉 (luósīfěn, river snail rice noodles). 粉丝 (fěnsī, glass noodles) are made from bean starch. ## What do Chinese people eat for breakfast? In the north, 豆浆 (dòujiāng, soy milk), warm soy milk, with 油条 (yóutiáo, deep-fried dough stick), fried dough sticks, or a 煎饼 (jiānbing, thin pancake), a crêpe folded round an egg; 包子 (bāozi, steamed bun) and rice porridge 粥 (zhōu, congee) everywhere; in the south, dim sum like 肠粉 (chángfěn, rice noodle roll) and 烧卖 (shāomài, shumai); and in Wuhan, 热干面 (règānmiàn, hot dry noodles), hot dry noodles. Breakfast is 早饭 (zǎofàn) or 早餐 (zǎocān). ## What are traditional Chinese desserts? Most are less sweet than Western ones, and many are warm. 汤圆 (tāngyuán, glutinous rice ball), sweet rice balls in soup, 双皮奶 (shuāngpínǎi, double-skin milk pudding), a steamed milk pudding, 豆花 (dòuhuā, tofu pudding), silken tofu in syrup, 红豆汤 (hóngdòutāng, red bean soup), red bean soup, 八宝饭 (bābǎofàn, eight-treasure rice pudding), eight-treasure rice, and 月饼 (yuèbing, mooncake), mooncakes. In Guangdong, sweet soups are called 糖水 (tángshuǐ, sweet soup), sugar water, and a dessert in general is 甜品 (tiánpǐn, dessert). ## What do Chinese people drink? Tea first, and in summer 酸梅汤 (suānméitāng, sour plum drink) or 凉茶 (liángchá, herbal tea). The famous liquor is 白酒 (báijiǔ, baijiu), strong and clear, of which 茅台 (máotái, Moutai) is the best known; 黄酒 (huángjiǔ, yellow wine) is a milder rice wine, and 啤酒 (píjiǔ, beer) is everywhere. Raise a glass with 干杯 (gānbēi), cheers, literally dry the cup. ## What are the eight great Chinese cuisines? China’s cooking is grouped by region into 八大菜系 (bādàcàixì, the Eight Great Cuisines of China): Shandong, Sichuan, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan and Anhui. Each name is the province’s one-character short name and 菜 (cài), dish: 川菜 (chuāncài, Sichuan cuisine) is Sichuan food, 粤菜 (yuècài, Cantonese cuisine) Cantonese and 湘菜 (xiāngcài, Hunan cuisine) Hunan. Sichuan and Hunan are the spiciest; Cantonese is the lightest and the one most Chinese restaurants abroad began with. ## What goes in Chinese hot pot? You cook raw food at the table in a pot of simmering broth, the 锅底 (guōdǐ, bottom of a pot): a numbing, spicy 麻辣锅 (málàguō, spicy numbing hot pot) in the Sichuan style, a mild 清汤 (qīngtāng, clear soup), or a pot split down the middle for both. Order thin-sliced 肥牛 (féiniú, fatty beef), lamb, 虾滑 (xiāhuá, shrimp paste) shrimp paste, 午餐肉 (wǔcānròu, luncheon meat), 金针菇 (jīnzhēngū, enoki mushroom) mushrooms, 豆腐皮 (dòufupí, tofu skin), tofu, greens and noodles, and dip them in a sauce you mix yourself: 麻酱 (májiàng, sesame paste) sesame paste in the north, 香油 (xiāngyóu, sesame oil) sesame oil with garlic in Chongqing. ## Can’t hear it? Play uses your device’s Mandarin voice. Edge, Chrome and Safari have one; a browser with none plays each character in our recorded voice instead. ## More on food - [Chinese phrases for a restaurant](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-phrases/restaurant) - [Chinese food words](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-vocabulary/food) - [How to pronounce Chinese food names](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce) - [Chinese table manners](https://mandarinthewild.com/guides/chinese-etiquette) - [Fruits and vegetables in Chinese](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-fruits-and-vegetables) Names, pinyin and what each dish is from our own dictionary.