拉面
lāmian
The English phrase "ramen noodles" is translated into Chinese as 拉面 (lāmian).
拉面 refers to wheat noodles served in a broth. While English speakers often use "ramen" specifically to describe Japanese-style noodles, in Chinese the term refers to the traditional Chinese hand-pulled noodle technique and the resulting dish.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 拉面 literally means "pulled noodles", referring to the technique of stretching and pulling the dough.
How do you pronounce it?
lāmian
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the long, unbroken strands of 拉面 symbolize longevity, making them a popular food for birthdays and New Year celebrations.
- While 拉面 is the general term, the specific hand-pulled style from Gansu province is often called 兰州拉面 or 'Lanzhou pulled noodles', which has become a global brand for the dish.
- A chef making 拉面 uses a rhythmic tossing motion to aerate the dough, which is a performance often watched by customers in open kitchens.
Examples in context
- 我想吃拉面。Wǒ xiǎng chī lāmiàn.I want to eat ramen noodles.
- 这家店的拉面很好吃。Zhè jiā diàn de lāmiàn hěn hǎochī.The ramen noodles at this shop are delicious.
- 你喜欢吃拉面吗？Nǐ xǐhuān chī lāmiàn ma?Do you like eating ramen noodles?
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 志强 Zhiqiang佳怡，你想吃什么？Jiāyí, nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?Jiayi, what do you want to eat?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我今天想吃拉面。Wǒ jīntiān xiǎng chī lāmiàn.I want to eat ramen noodles today.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好啊，那我们去吃拉面吧。Hǎo a, nà wǒmen qù chī lāmiàn ba.Okay, let's go eat ramen noodles then.
- 佳怡 Jiayi太好了，我也很饿。Tài hǎole, wǒ yě hěn è.Great, I am very hungry too.
