📂 Food & Drink

Thousand-Year-Old Egg

皮蛋

📌 Quick Overview | 词条速览

Slang Name:Thousand-Year-Old Egg

Chinese:皮蛋

Type:Food & Drink / Chinglish Slang

🔎 What does "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" mean?

English:
A traditional Chinese preserved egg product, also known as pine-patterned egg, made by preserving duck/chicken/quail eggs with alkaline substances, with translucent dark green egg white and creamy yolk, unique in flavor.

中文:
中国传统蛋制品,又称松花蛋,通过碱性物质腌制鸭蛋、鸡蛋或鹌鹑蛋制成,蛋清呈半透明墨绿色,蛋黄绵密,风味独特🥚

📜 Origin & Background | 词源与文化背景

With a history of more than 500 years in China, it was invented accidentally by an ancient Chinese farmer. The name "thousand-year-old egg" is an exaggeration for its long preservation time, and it is a unique delicacy in Chinese cold dishes and porridge.
在中国已有500多年历史,据传由古代中国农民偶然发明。“千年蛋”的名称是对其长久保存时间的夸张形容,是中式凉菜、粥品中的特色美味。

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is it polite to say "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" in formal situations? (在正式场合说"Thousand-Year-Old Egg"礼貌吗?) +

"Thousand-Year-Old Egg" is informal slang. It is perfectly fine to use with friends, on social media, or in casual conversations. However, avoid using it in formal writing, job interviews, or professional emails. In those settings, it may sound unprofessional or confusing to native English speakers who are not familiar with Chinglish expressions. Use it to add humor, not in serious contexts.

"Thousand-Year-Old Egg"属于非正式俚语,适合在朋友之间、社交媒体或闲聊时使用。但在正式写作、求职面试或商务邮件中请避免使用,因为不熟悉中式英语的母语者可能会觉得不专业或令人困惑。想增加幽默感时可以用,严肃场合请避免。

Can native English speakers understand "Thousand-Year-Old Egg"? (英语母语者能理解"Thousand-Year-Old Egg"吗?) +

Most native English speakers cannot understand "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" without explanation, because it is a Chinglish phrase that follows Chinese grammar or word choices. However, with the rise of Chinese internet culture on TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit, more foreigners are learning these phrases and finding them funny. If you use it, be prepared to explain the meaning — it often makes for a great conversation starter!

大多数英语母语者无法在没有解释的情况下理解"Thousand-Year-Old Egg",因为它是遵循中文语法或用词习惯的中式英语。不过,随着中国网络文化在 TikTok、YouTube 和 Reddit 上的传播,越来越多外国人正在学习这些短语,并觉得它们很有趣。如果你使用它,请准备好解释含义——这往往能成为一个很棒的话题开场白!

What is the difference between "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" and standard English expressions? ("Thousand-Year-Old Egg"和标准英语表达有什么区别?) +

The main difference is that "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" uses Chinese sentence structure or literal translation, while standard English would use completely different words. For example, standard English might express the same idea with a common idiom or slang term, but "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" keeps the Chinese logic. This is exactly what makes it Chinglish — it is creative, humorous, and uniquely Chinese, even if it is not "correct" English.

主要区别在于"Thousand-Year-Old Egg"使用了中文句子结构或字面翻译,而标准英语会使用完全不同的词汇。例如,标准英语可能用常见的习语或俚语表达同样的意思,但"Thousand-Year-Old Egg"保留了中国人的逻辑。这正是它成为中式英语的原因——它有创意、幽默,且具有独特的中国色彩,即使它并不是"正确"的英语。

When did "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" become popular online? ("Thousand-Year-Old Egg"是什么时候在网上流行起来的?) +

The phrase "Thousand-Year-Old Egg" started gaining traction on Chinese social media platforms like Douyin and Bilibili around 2018–2020, when short videos explaining Chinglish went viral. It was then picked up by international TikTok users who found it hilarious and started using it as a meme. Today, it is one of the most recognized Chinglish phrases among both Chinese learners and curious netizens worldwide.

"Thousand-Year-Old Egg"大约在2018–2020年间在抖音、B站等中国社交媒体上开始走红,当时解释中式英语的短视频迅速爆火。随后被国际 TikTok 用户发掘并作为梗传播,他们认为这非常有趣。如今,它已成为中外网友中最具辨识度的中式英语短语之一。

📖 Example Sentences | 双语实用例句

📌 Example 1
A: "What's that black translucent egg in the cold dish?" B: "It's thousand-year-old egg, a Chinese specialty."

A:"凉菜里那个黑黢黢半透明的蛋是什么?" B:"那是皮蛋,中国特色食材。"
📌 Example 2
A: "I love thousand-year-old egg with tofu cold dish." B: "It's one of the most classic Chinese cold dishes."

A:"我超爱吃皮蛋拌豆腐。" B:"这是最经典的中式凉菜之一。"
📌 Example 3
A: "Thousand-year-old egg congee is my favorite breakfast." B: "It tastes smooth and full of flavor."

A:"皮蛋瘦肉粥是我最爱的早餐。" B:"口感顺滑,味道超足。"
📌 Example 4
A: "Can you eat thousand-year-old egg directly?" B: "Yes, just peel it and add some vinegar."

A:"皮蛋能直接吃吗?" B:"可以,剥壳蘸点醋就行。"
📌 Example 5
A: "Many foreigners try thousand-year-old egg for the first time." B: "Most of them fall in love with its unique taste."

A:"很多外国人第一次尝试皮蛋。" B:"大部分人都会爱上它的独特风味。"
📌 Example 6
A: "I cut thousand-year-old egg into pieces for the salad." B: "That's a creative way to eat it!"

A:"我把皮蛋切了做沙拉。" B:"这吃法也太有创意了!"
📌 Example 7
A: "Thousand-year-old egg has beautiful pine patterns on it." B: "That's why it's also called pine-patterned egg."

A:"皮蛋上有好看的松花花纹。" B:"所以它也叫松花蛋。"
📌 Example 8
A: "Don't eat too many thousand-year-old eggs at one time." B: "Right, it's better to eat them in moderation."

A:"别一次吃太多皮蛋。" B:"对,适量食用最好。"
📌 Example 9
A: "My mom makes cold dish with thousand-year-old egg and ham." B: "That combination sounds super delicious!"

A:"我妈妈用皮蛋和火腿做凉菜。" B:"这个搭配听起来也太好吃了!"
📅 May 11, 2026
#Chinglish #Food&Drink #ChineseEnglish
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