核桃虾
hétáo xiā
The English phrase honey walnut shrimp is translated into Chinese as 核桃虾 (hétáo xiā).
The term refers to a dish consisting of shrimp glazed in a honey sauce and topped with candied walnuts. The phrase literally translates to 'walnut shrimp', omitting the word 'honey' which is often implied in the context of this specific dish name in Chinese menus.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 核桃虾 breaks down into two parts: 核桃 (hétáo), which means 'walnut' and 虾 (xiā), which means 'shrimp'.
Which one should you use?
You can use 蜜汁核桃虾 to be more descriptive. By adding 蜜汁 (mìzhī), which means 'honey juice' or 'honey glaze', the name becomes closer to the English 'honey glazed walnut shrimp'.
How do you pronounce it?
hétáo xiā
Did you know?
- While 'honey walnut shrimp' is a staple of Westernized Chinese cuisine, the specific combination of candied walnuts and honey-glazed shrimp is a culinary invention of the overseas Chinese diaspora rather than a traditional mainland Chinese recipe.
- The character 虾 (xiā) for 'shrimp' contains the radical for 'insect' 虫, as ancient Chinese classification grouped crustaceans and insects together.
- In Chinese, the word 核桃 (hétáo) is also used as a metaphor for the brain in some colloquial contexts because of the physical resemblance between a walnut and a human brain.
Examples in context
- 我想点一份核桃虾。Wǒ xiǎng diǎn yī fèn hétáo xiā.I want to order a serving of honey walnut shrimp.
- 这个核桃虾味道很甜。Zhège hétáo xiā wèidào hěn tián.This honey walnut shrimp tastes very sweet.
Example conversation
At a Chinese restaurant, Zhiqiang and Yuting are looking at the menu.
- 志强 Zhiqiang雨婷，你想吃核桃虾吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiǎng chī hétáo xiā ma?Yuting, do you want to eat honey walnut shrimp?
- 雨婷 Yuting好啊，我也很喜欢吃这个。Hǎo a, wǒ yě hěn xǐhuān chī zhège.Sure, I really like eating this too.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那我们就点一个核桃虾吧。Nà wǒmen jiù diǎn yīgè hétáo xiā ba.Then let's order one honey walnut shrimp.
- 雨婷 Yuting没问题，志强。Méi wèntí, Zhìqiáng.No problem, Zhiqiang.
