生姜
shēngjiāng
The English word "ginger" is translated into Chinese as 生姜 (shēngjiāng).
生姜 refers to the spice ginger used in cooking.
Meaning: spice (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 生姜 is composed of 生, meaning 'raw' or 'fresh' and 姜, meaning 'ginger'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Sichuan Mandarin, the character 姜 is used for ginger.
How do you pronounce it?
shēngjiāng
Did you know?
- Chinese culture uses the phrase 姜还是老的辣, which literally means 'older ginger is more pungent', to describe how experience makes a person more capable.
- The character 姜 is also a common Chinese surname, which creates a linguistic coincidence where a person's family name is identical to the word for ginger.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the 'warm' properties associated with 姜 are often discussed in terms of balancing the body's 'qi', a concept that goes far beyond simple flavor.
Examples in context
- 我需要一些薑來做菜。I need some ginger to cook.
- 薑可以幫助消化。Ginger can help with digestion.
- 姐姐，這道菜需要生薑嗎？Sister, does this dish need ginger?
- 你曾經嚐過生薑湯嗎？Have you ever tasted ginger soup?
- 我想买一些生姜。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīxiē shēngjiāng.I want to buy some ginger.
- 生姜的味道很辛辣。Shēngjiāng de wèidào hěn xīnlà.The taste of ginger is very spicy.
- 做菜时要加一点生姜。Zuò cài shí yào jiā yīdiǎn shēngjiāng.Add a little ginger when cooking.
Example conversation
In a kitchen while preparing dinner.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，生姜在哪里？Hàorán, shēngjiāng zài nǎlǐ?Haoran, where is the ginger?
- 浩然 Haoran在冰箱的抽屉里。Zài bīngxiāng de chōutì lǐ.It is in the refrigerator drawer.
- 雨婷 Yuting我们还需要一点生姜吗？Wǒmen hái xūyào yīdiǎn shēngjiāng ma?Do we still need some ginger?
- 浩然 Haoran不用了，已经够了。Bù yòng le, yǐjīng gòu le.No need, we already have enough.
