Chinglish Dictionary

Dim sum

点心

A style of Cantonese cuisine consisting of small bite-sized savory and sweet dishes, usually served with tea in teahouse...

Ginseng

人参

A perennial herb native to East Asia, especially China, with fleshy roots used in traditional Chinese medicine for tonin...

Lychee

荔枝

A tropical fruit native to southern China, with sweet white flesh and a rough red shell; a famous Chinese fruit widely k...

Private message / Si xin

私信

A one-to-one private chat function on Chinese Internet platforms, referring to sending messages that only the sender and...

Mahjong

麻将

A traditional Chinese tile-based game played by 4 players, combining strategy, luck and skill; a globally popular Chines...

Tai chi / Tai chi chuan

太极 / 太极拳

A traditional Chinese martial art and meditative exercise featuring slow, gentle movements, focusing on balance, relaxat...

Feng shui

风水

An ancient Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing individuals with their surrounding environment, used to arrange s...

Kung fu

功夫

A collective term for Chinese martial arts, emphasizing skill, discipline, strength and spiritual cultivation; a globall...

A mouthful of oil

满嘴油

A vivid Chinglish food description: "a mouthful of oil" — describing the feeling of eating something so rich and fatty t...

First taste then buy

先尝后买

A classic Chinese market food phrase: "try first, then buy." It's the vendor's invitation to sample their product before...

Eat outside

在外面吃

A simple Chinglish phrase for "eat out" — dining at a restaurant instead of at home. The word order "eat outside" follow...

Add rice

加饭

A practical Chinglish request heard in every Chinese restaurant: "add rice" — meaning "more rice please." Rice is the st...

Eat tofu

吃豆腐

A famous double-meaning Chinglish phrase: "eat tofu" in Chinese culture means to take advantage of someone sexually — ge...

Small dish

小菜一碟

A Chinglish idiom meaning "a piece of cake" or "very easy." Literally "a small dish" — something so simple it's like pre...

Eat wind

喝西北风

A poetic Chinglish idiom about poverty: "drink the northwest wind" — meaning having nothing to eat. It vividly describes...

Taste fresh

尝鲜

A seasonal Chinglish food invitation: "come taste the fresh (seasonal ingredients)!" It's the Chinese tradition of enjoy...

Eat vinegar

吃醋

A culturally unique Chinglish expression: "eat vinegar" means to be jealous — specifically romantic jealousy. It's one o...

Bao le

饱了

A minimalist Chinglish food phrase: just "bao le" — literally "full already." It's the Chinese way of saying "I'm full" ...

Pack bag

打包

A practical Chinglish food term: "pack bag" meaning takeaway or doggy bag. When you can't finish your meal, you ask the ...

No spicy no happy

无辣不欢

A passionate Chinglish food philosophy: "without spice, there is no happiness." It describes people who can't enjoy a me...