特辣
tè là
The English phrase 'extra spicy' is translated into Chinese as 特辣 (tè là).
特辣 is used to describe food that has a very high level of spiciness. When ordering food, you can use the phrase 要特辣 (yào tè là) to specify that you want your dish to be extra spicy.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 特 (tè), meaning 'special' or 'extraordinarily' and 辣 (là), meaning 'spicy'.
Which one should you use?
While 特辣 (tè là) means extra spicy, 微辣 (wēi là) is the standard term used to request a mild level of spiciness.
How do you pronounce it?
tè là
Did you know?
- While 特辣 (tè là) denotes the highest level of heat, some diners use the phrase 变态辣 (biàntài là), which literally means 'pervert spicy' or 'abnormal spicy', to describe extreme heat levels in challenge-style dishes.
- The character 辣 (là) is also used in the word 泼辣 (pō là) to describe a woman who is bold, assertive and outspoken.
- In some regions of China, the word 辣 (là) is used to describe the tingling sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, which is technically 'numbing' rather than 'spicy'. This is known as 麻辣 (má là), a combination of numbness and heat.
Examples in context
- 这个菜太淡了，要更辣才好吃This dish is too bland, it would be tastier if it were spicier.
- 这个菜要特辣。Zhège cài yào tè là.This dish needs to be extra spicy.
- 我不喜欢特辣的食物。Wǒ bù xǐhuān tè là de shíwù.I don't like extra spicy food.
- 你要点特辣的吗？Nǐ yào diǎn tè là de ma?Do you want to order extra spicy?
Example conversation
浩然 and 晓雯 are ordering food at a Sichuan restaurant.
- 浩然 Haoran你想吃多辣的？Nǐ xiǎng chī duō là de?How spicy do you want to eat?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我喜欢特辣的。Wǒ xǐhuān tè là de.I like extra spicy.
- 浩然 Haoran那你一定要小心了。Nà nǐ yīdìng yào xiǎoxīn le.Then you must be careful.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没关系，我能吃。Méiguānxì, wǒ néng chī.It's okay, I can handle it.
