辣油
làyóu
Chili oil in Chinese is 辣油 (làyóu). Wiktionary also lists 紅油 / 红油 (hóngyóu).
Meaning: condiment (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 辣油 | làyóu |
| 紅油 / 红油 | hóngyóu |
While 辣油 is a common way to refer to it, you may also encounter the more precise term 辣椒油 (làjiàoyóu), which specifically refers to the condiment made from chili peppers (辣椒 meaning chili pepper).
What does it mean word for word?
The term 辣油 is composed of 辣 (là), meaning spicy and 油 (yóu), meaning oil.
Which one should you use?
辣油 literally means 'spicy oil', whereas 紅油 or 红油 literally means 'red oil'. In culinary contexts, these two terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same condiment.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sichuan region, the term 辣油 is used to refer to chili oil.
How do you pronounce it?
làyóu
Did you know?
- The character 辣 can be used as an adjective to describe a person with a 'spicy' or sharp personality, moving beyond the literal taste of chili oil.
- Authentic 紅油 is often made by heating oil and pouring it over raw chili flakes, rather than frying the peppers, to preserve a bright red color and prevent a burnt taste.
- Some dishes described as 紅油 (red oil) may not be spicy at all, as non-spicy oils are sometimes colored red for visual presentation.
Examples in context
- 请给我一些辣椒油Please give me some chili oil
- 我想加一点辣油。Wǒ xiǎng jiā yīdiǎn làyóu.I want to add a little chili oil.
- 这个辣油真的很香。Zhège làyóu zhēnde hěn xiāng.This chili oil is really fragrant.
Example conversation
At a noodle restaurant, Haoran and Xiaowen are eating.
- 浩然 Haoran面里没有辣油，太淡了。Miàn lǐ méiyǒu làyóu, tài dàn le.There is no chili oil in the noodles, it's too bland.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我可以帮你去拿一点吗？Wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ qù ná yīdiǎn ma?Can I go get some for you?
- 浩然 Haoran谢谢，麻烦你了。Xièxiè, máfan nǐ le.Thanks, sorry to trouble you.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没关系，很快就好。Méiguānxì, hěn kuài jiù hǎo.No problem, it will be quick.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chili oil” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
