肉汁
ròuzhī
In Mandarin, the English word "gravy" is translated as 肉汁 (ròuzhī).
肉汁 is used specifically to refer to juices or sauces that are derived from meat, such as meat gravy.
Meaning: sauce (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 肉 (meat) and 汁 (juice/liquid), literally meaning "meat juice".
How do you pronounce it?
ròuzhī
Did you know?
- The word 肉 can refer to any kind of meat, but in some traditional contexts, it specifically implies pork, meaning 肉汁 might be assumed to be pork gravy unless specified otherwise.
- While 肉汁 refers to meat-based liquids, the general word for 'sauce' is 酱, which specifically refers to thick, fermented, or paste-like condiments like soy sauce or hoisin.
- In Chinese culinary culture, the liquid remaining at the bottom of a steamed meat dish is prized as 肉汁 and is often used to flavor the accompanying rice.
Examples in context
- 番茄酱汁Tomato gravy/sauce
- 蘑菇酱汁Mushroom gravy/sauce
- 这道菜的肉汁很浓。Zhè dào cài de ròuzhī hěn nóng.The gravy of this dish is very thick.
- 你想在土豆上加肉汁吗？Nǐ xiǎng zài tǔdòu shàng jiā ròuzhī ma?Do you want to add gravy to the potatoes?
- 请给我一点肉汁。Qǐng gěi wǒ yīdiǎn ròuzhī.Please give me a little gravy.
Example conversation
Wei and Yuting are having dinner together.
- 伟 Wei雨婷，你想要肉汁吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiǎng yào ròuzhī ma?Yuting, do you want some gravy?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，请给我一些。Shì de, qǐng gěi wǒ yīxiē.Yes, please give me some.
- 伟 Wei好的，我这就给你倒。Hǎo de, wǒ zhè jiù gěi nǐ dào.Okay, I will pour some for you now.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你，伟。Xièxiè nǐ, Wěi.Thank you, Wei.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gravy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
