牛小排
niú xiǎopái
The English phrase "short ribs" is translated into Mandarin as 牛小排 (niú xiǎopái).
The term refers to a beef cut taken from the lower part of the rib cage.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 牛小排 is composed of 牛 (niú, beef/cow), 小 (xiǎo, small) and 排 (pái, rib/slice).
How do you pronounce it?
niú xiǎopái
Did you know?
- If you want to call someone 'awesome' in Chinese slang, you might use the word 牛 (niú), which is the same word used for 'beef' in 牛小排.
- In Chinese luxury dining, 牛小排 is often graded as 雪花牛, which literally translates to 'snowflake beef' to describe the white fat marbling.
- While 牛小排 specifically refers to the beef cut, if you simply ask for 'ribs' in a restaurant, you might be served 排骨 (páigǔ), which usually implies pork ribs.
Examples in context
- 我想买一些牛小排。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīxiē niú xiǎopái.I want to buy some short ribs.
- 这家餐厅的牛小排很出名。Zhè jiā cāntīng de niú xiǎopái hěn chūmíng.This restaurant's short ribs are very famous.
- 今天晚餐做牛小排吧。Jīntiān wǎncān zuò niú xiǎopái ba.Let's make short ribs for dinner today.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to cook for dinner at home.
- 志强 Zhiqiang雨婷，你想吃什么？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?Yuting, what do you want to eat?
- 雨婷 Yuting我想吃牛小排。Wǒ xiǎng chī niú xiǎopái.I want to eat short ribs.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好，那我去超市买牛小排。Hǎo, nà wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi niú xiǎopái.Okay, then I will go to the supermarket to buy short ribs.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你，志强。Xièxiè nǐ, Zhìqiáng.Thank you, Zhiqiang.
