叻沙
lèshā
Laksa is a spicy stew from Indonesia or Malaysia, known in Mandarin as 叻沙 (lèshā). Wiktionary also lists 喇沙 (lǎshā).
Meaning: a spicy stew from Indonesia or Malaysia (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 叻沙 | lèshā |
| 喇沙 | lǎshā |
Which one should you use?
The form 叻沙 is the standard transcription used in most Mandarin-speaking regions, whereas 喇沙 is a phonetic variation.
How do you pronounce it?
lèshā
Did you know?
- Although 叻沙 refers to the famous Southeast Asian dish, the phonetic transcription 喇沙 is used in Mandarin to write the name of the French explorer 'La Salle'.
- The concept of 'laksa' in Mandarin is often associated with Peranakan culture, a unique blend of Chinese and Malay heritage that created the dish's identity.
- Depending on the region, 叻沙 can describe two entirely different recipes: one using a creamy coconut base and another using a sour tamarind broth.
Examples in context
- 你吃过辣沙吗？Have you tried laksa?
- 我非常喜欢吃叻沙。Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān chī lèshā.I really like eating laksa.
- 这家店的叻沙很有名。Zhè jiā diàn de lèshā hěn yǒumíng.The laksa at this shop is very famous.
- 你想尝试一下这里的叻沙吗？Nǐ xiǎng chángshì yīxià zhèlǐ de lèshā ma?Do you want to try the laksa here?
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to order at a Southeast Asian restaurant.
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，你想点什么？Jùnjié, nǐ xiǎng diǎn shénme?Junjie, what do you want to order?
- 俊杰 Junjie我打算点一份叻沙。Wǒ dǎsuàn diǎn yī fèn lèshā.I plan to order a serving of laksa.
- 雨婷 Yuting那个汤太辣了，你行吗？Nàge tāng tài là le, nǐ xíng ma?That soup is too spicy, can you handle it?
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，我最喜欢辣的。Méi wèntí, wǒ zuì xǐhuān là de.No problem, I love spicy food the most.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “laksa” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
