泡菜
pàocài
The Chinese word for pickles is 泡菜 (pàocài).
泡菜 is a broad category used to describe any vegetables that have been preserved in brine, vinegar or a fermented liquid. It is not limited to just cucumbers.
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of 泡, meaning to soak or steep and 菜, meaning vegetable or dish.
Which one should you use?
While 泡菜 is a general term for various pickled vegetables, if you specifically want to refer to Western-style pickled cucumbers, you should use 酸黄瓜. Additionally, the term 酸菜 generally refers specifically to pickled cabbage.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Sichuan cuisine, 泡菜 refers to a wide variety of fermented vegetables that are frequently used as side dishes or as a base for spicy soups.
How do you pronounce it?
pàocài
Did you know?
- The word 泡 is also used as a slang verb meaning 'to flirt' or 'to hit on' someone, as if you are slowly soaking them in your charm.
- In Sichuan, the brine used for 泡菜 is often treated as a living heirloom, with families maintaining the same fermentation jar for decades by continuously adding new vegetables.
- Traditional Sichuan 泡菜 are fermented in large earthenware jars buried in the ground to keep the temperature stable throughout the year.
Examples in context
- 请给我一份酸菜Please give me a serving of pickles.
- 我特别喜欢吃腌菜，你呢?I really enjoy eating pickles, how about you?
- 我喜欢吃泡菜。Wǒ xǐhuān chī pàocài.I like to eat pickles.
- 桌子上有一盘泡菜。Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī pán pàocài.There is a plate of pickles on the table.
- 这个泡菜有点咸。Zhège pàocài yǒudiǎn xián.These pickles are a bit salty.
Example conversation
Yuting and Haoran are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 雨婷 Yuting我们要不要点一些泡菜？Wǒmen yào bù yào diǎn yīxiē pàocài?Should we order some pickles?
- 浩然 Haoran好主意，我很想吃。Hǎo zhǔyì, wǒ hěn xiǎng chī.Good idea, I really want some.
- 雨婷 Yuting这里的泡菜很有名。Zhèlǐ de pàocài hěn yǒumíng.The pickles here are very famous.
- 浩然 Haoran那我们点一份吧。Nà wǒmen diǎn yī fèn ba.Then let's order one portion.
