開胃菜 / 开胃菜
kāiwèicài
The English word "appetizer" can be translated into Chinese as 開胃菜 / 开胃菜 (kāiwèicài). Wiktionary also lists 前菜 (qiáncài).
Meaning: small, light first course (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 開胃菜 / 开胃菜 | kāiwèicài |
| 前菜 | qiáncài |
開胃菜 / 开胃菜 is often used to describe small, salty or sour dishes specifically intended to stimulate hunger before a main meal.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 開胃菜 / 开胃菜 literally means "appetite-opening dish".
Which one should you use?
While 開胃菜 / 开胃菜 focuses on the function of stimulating appetite, 前菜 focuses on the position of the dish as the "first course" in a meal sequence.
How do you pronounce it?
kāiwèicài
Did you know?
- If you are looking for an appetizer in a traditional Chinese setting, you might encounter 凉菜 / liángcài, which literally means 'cold dishes' and typically serves as the opening course.
- The Chinese concept of 開胃 is rooted in the traditional belief that specific flavors like sour and spicy are necessary to 'wake up' the digestive system.
- A traditional Chinese 前菜 is frequently served as a collection of several different small portions on one large communal platter rather than individual plates.
Examples in context
- 这家餐厅的开胃菜十分精致。The appetizers at this restaurant are exceptionally delicate.
- 我们点了一些小吃作为开胃小菜。We ordered some snacks as our appetizers.
- 这家小餐馆的开胃小菜非常美味。The appetizing starters at this small restaurant are incredibly delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “appetizer” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
