虾
xiā
The Chinese word for shrimp is 虾 (xiā).
The term 虾仁 is used specifically to refer to the peeled shrimp meat used in cooking, whereas 虾 refers to the whole animal.
Meaning: flesh of the crustacean (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 虾 is the general term for the animal, 虾仁 refers specifically to the shrimp meat (the peeled flesh) used in culinary contexts. You can also use 对虾 to specify shrimp more explicitly.
How do you pronounce it?
xiā
Did you know?
- The term 虾仁 xiā rén uses the character 仁 rén, which usually means 'benevolence' or 'seed', but here refers specifically to the 'core' or 'kernel' of the meat.
- The term 龙虾 for lobster literally translates to 'dragon shrimp'. This elevates the crustacean to a status of luxury and power associated with the dragon.
- The character 虾 xiā is an ideogram where the 'insect' radical 虫 chóng is used, which in ancient Chinese classification included almost all invertebrates, including crustaceans and worms.
Examples in context
- 阿嗄拉咭是源自非洲的巴西食品，是豇豆面团、洋葱和盐，经棕榈油炸，与虾和辣酱一起食用的食品。Acaraje, a Brazilian food from Africa, is a ball of caupi bean dough, onions, and salt, fried in palm oil and served with shrimp and a spicy sauce.This sentence shows how to use 虾 when describing the ingredients of a dish.Tatoeba #5685964 by verdastelo9604, translation #3389242 by hoffmania
- 虾饺 (xiā jiǎo)Shrimp dumplings
- 虾炒饭 (xiā chǎo fàn)Shrimp fried rice
- 这个虾很大。Zhège xiā hěn dà.This shrimp is very big.
- 我喜欢吃虾。Wǒ xǐhuān chī xiā.I like eating shrimp.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to order at a seafood restaurant.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你想吃虾吗？Nǐ xiǎng chī xiā ma?Do you want to eat shrimp?
- 浩然 Haoran我想吃，也很喜欢吃虾。Wǒ xiǎng chī, yě hěn xǐhuān chī xiā.I want to, and I really like eating shrimp.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那我们点一份虾。Nà wǒmen diǎn yī fèn xiā.Then let's order a serving of shrimp.
- 浩然 Haoran好，我也觉得不错。Hǎo, wǒ yě juéde bùcuò.Okay, I think that's a good idea too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
