鸡饭
jīfàn
The English phrase "chicken rice" is translated into Chinese as 鸡饭 (jīfàn).
The term refers to a dish consisting of cooked chicken served with rice. While 鸡饭 is a general term, you may often see a more specific name for the popular Southeast Asian dish: 海南鸡饭 (Hainan chicken rice).
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 鸡 (jī), meaning chicken and 饭 (fàn), meaning cooked rice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese cuisine, chicken rice is often called 鸡饭.
How do you pronounce it?
jīfàn
Did you know?
- While 海南鸡饭 refers to Hainan, the dish as we know it today was refined in the hawker centers of Southeast Asia rather than in China.
- The word 饭 (fàn) in 鸡饭 can mean 'cooked rice' or a 'meal' in general, meaning the phrase can technically refer to the entire dinner event and not just the dish.
- The characteristic yellow hue of the rice in 海南鸡饭 is not from food coloring or saffron, but comes from sautéing the grains in chicken fat and garlic before steaming.
Examples in context
- 我想要一份鸡肉饭。I would like a serving of chicken rice.
- 我们去吃鸡饭吧！Let's go eat chicken rice!
- 这盘鸡饭很好吃。Zhè pán jīfàn hěn hǎochī.This plate of chicken rice is delicious.
- 请给我一份鸡饭。Qǐng gěi wǒ yī fèn jīfàn.Please give me one serving of chicken rice.
Example conversation
A casual lunch at a food court.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，你点什么？Zhìqiáng, nǐ diǎn shénme?Zhiqiang, what are you ordering?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我想吃鸡饭。Wǒ xiǎng chī jīfàn.I want to eat chicken rice.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我也要一份鸡饭。Nà wǒ yě yào yī fèn jīfàn.Then I want a chicken rice too.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，我们一起等吧。Hǎo de, wǒmen yīqǐ děng ba.Okay, let's wait together.
