鸡汤面
jī tāng miàn
The English phrase "chicken noodle soup" is translated into Chinese as 鸡汤面 (jī tāng miàn).
鸡汤面 refers to a noodle dish served in a chicken-flavored broth. While English speakers often think of "soup" as a liquid base, this term describes a specific dish where noodles are the primary component served within the broth.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 鸡 (chicken), 汤 (soup) and 面 (noodles or wheat noodles).
Which one should you use?
If you want to order just the chicken soup without the noodles, you should use the form 鸡汤.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the city of Wenzhou, a specific version of this dish is referred to as 温州鸡面.
How do you pronounce it?
jī tāng miàn
Did you know?
- The character 鸡 for chicken is used in the phrase 鸡零狗碎, which describes trivial or fragmented matters, showing how the bird appears in common idioms.
- In China, 鸡汤面 is often served as a comfort food for the sick, but it can also be a traditional breakfast dish in certain provinces.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, 鸡汤 is often viewed as a 'tonifying' food that restores 'qi' or energy after a long period of exhaustion.
Examples in context
- 这碗鸡汤面很好吃。Zhè wǎn jītāngmiàn hěn hǎochī.This chicken noodle soup is delicious.
- 请给我一份鸡汤面。Qǐng gěi wǒ yí fèn jītāngmiàn.Please give me an order of chicken noodle soup.
Example conversation
At a small noodle shop during lunch.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen浩然，你点了什么？Hàorán, nǐ diǎn le shénme?Haoran, what did you order?
- 浩然 Haoran我点了一碗鸡汤面。Wǒ diǎn le yì wǎn jītāngmiàn.I ordered a bowl of chicken noodle soup.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen看起来很香。Kàn qǐlái hěn xiāng.It looks very fragrant.
- 浩然 Haoran你要不要也来一碗？Nǐ yào bú yào yě lái yì wǎn?Do you want to have a bowl too?
