糖醋里脊
tángcù lǐji
The English phrase "sweet and sour pork" is translated into Chinese as 糖醋里脊 (tángcù lǐji).
This phrase refers to a Chinese dish consisting of fried pork pieces coated in a sweet and sour sauce. While the English name often refers to the dish generally, the Chinese name specifically identifies the cut of meat as tenderloin (里脊).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 糖 (sugar), 醋 (vinegar) and 里脊 (tenderloin/pork loin).
How do you pronounce it?
tángcù lǐji
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the combination of sweet and sour is not just a taste but represents a balance of opposites, similar to the concept of 'yin and yang'.
- The character 糖 (sugar) was historically associated with luxury and medicinal uses before becoming a staple of savory cooking in dishes like 糖醋里脊.
- The term 里脊 (lǐji) for 'tenderloin' describes the meat's anatomical position along the spine. This literal method of naming cuts by their physical location is a standard feature of traditional Chinese butchery.
Examples in context
- 我要一份酸甜咕噜肉I would like to have a serving of sweet and sour pork.
- 这盘糖醋里脊很好吃。Zhè pán tángcù lǐjǐ hěn hǎochī.This dish of sweet and sour pork is delicious.
- 服务员，请给我一份糖醋里脊。Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ yī fèn tángcù lǐjǐ.Waiter, please give me one serving of sweet and sour pork.
Example conversation
志强 and 雨婷 are deciding what to order at a restaurant.
- 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我想吃糖醋里脊。Wǒ xiǎng chī tángcù lǐjǐ.I want to eat sweet and sour pork.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好，那我们点一份糖醋里脊吧。Hǎo, nà wǒmen diǎn yī fèn tángcù lǐjǐ ba.Okay, then let's order one sweet and sour pork.
- 雨婷 Yuting太好了，谢谢你。Tài hǎole, xièxiè nǐ.Great, thank you.
