炒菜

chǎocài

verb #38,171

Meanings

1 to stir-fry
2 to cook (a dish)
3 stir-fried dish

Characters

vegetable; dish

Examples

HSK 2

我妈妈炒菜特别好吃。

Wǒ māma chǎocài tèbié hǎochī.

My mom's cooking is especially delicious.

HSK 5

炒菜前要把锅烧热。

Chǎocài qián yào bǎ guō shāo rè.

Heat the wok before stir-frying.

Tips

culture

炒 (stir-frying in a hot wok with little oil) is the defining Chinese cooking technique - one of the 'eight methods' alongside 煎/煮/蒸/炖/烤/炸/烧. Saying 我会炒菜 often means 'I can cook' in general, not just stir-fry.

Stroke Order

炒 chǎo

菜 cài