Hotpot & BBQ in Chinese 火锅和烧烤
huǒguō hé shāokǎo
Hotpot / barbecue in Chinese are 火锅 / 烧烤 (huǒ guō / shāo kǎo).
Also searched for as: hot pot, barbecue, bbq, skewers.
What do you eat with a group of friends? 15 essential hotpot & barbecue words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
Hotpot and barbecue are the ultimate group meals in China: loud, social and best shared with friends. At a 火锅 (huǒ guō) restaurant you choose a 锅底 (guō dǐ), or broth, then 涮 (shuàn) thin slices of meat and vegetables in it, while 烧烤 (shāo kǎo) stalls serve 羊肉串 (yáng ròu chuàn), lamb skewers dusted with cumin. These words help you order, share and survive the spice.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 火锅 | huǒ guō | hotpot |
| 锅底 | guō dǐ | hotpot broth |
| 鸳鸯锅 | yuān yāng guō | split hotpot (two broths) |
| 涮 | shuàn | to dip-boil (in hotpot) |
| 肥牛 | féi niú | thin-sliced beef |
| 蘸料 | zhàn liào | dipping sauce |
| 麻酱 | má jiàng | sesame paste |
| 烧烤 | shāo kǎo | barbecue |
| 烤肉 | kǎo ròu | grilled meat |
| 羊肉串 | yáng ròu chuàn | lamb skewers |
| 孜然 | zī rán | cumin |
| 啤酒 | pí jiǔ | beer |
| 麻辣 | má là | spicy and numbing |
| 不辣 | bù là | not spicy |
| 吃到饱 | chī dào bǎo | all you can eat |
Usage tips
- If your group can't agree on spice levels, order a 鸳鸯锅 (yuān yāng guō), a pot split into spicy and mild halves; 鸳鸯 are mandarin ducks, a traditional symbol of a pair.
- Sichuan and Chongqing hotpot is known for its 麻辣 (má là) broth, while Beijing-style hotpot is usually eaten with 麻酱 (má jiàng), sesame paste, as the dip.
- Skewers are counted with 串 (chuàn), and when ordering people often just give the item and number: 羊肉串来二十串 (yáng ròu chuàn lái èr shí chuàn).
Common mistakes
- Confusing 麻 (má), the tingling numbness from Sichuan pepper, with 辣 (là), chilli heat: 麻辣 means both, so ask for 微辣 (wēi là), 'mildly spicy', if you're unsure.
- Saying 不太辣 when you want no spice at all: it means 'not too spicy'. To avoid chilli completely, say 不要辣 (bù yào là) or 我要不辣的 (wǒ yào bù là de).
Mini dialogue
- A我们吃火锅吧！要什么锅底？Wǒ men chī huǒ guō ba! Yào shén me guō dǐ?Let's have hotpot! Which broth shall we get?
- B我不太能吃辣，点个鸳鸯锅吧。Wǒ bù tài néng chī là, diǎn gè yuān yāng guō ba.I can't really handle spice. Let's get a split pot.
- A好。肥牛一定要点！Hǎo. Féi niú yī dìng yào diǎn!OK. We have to order the sliced beef!
- B对，我去调蘸料。Duì, wǒ qù tiáo zhàn liào.Definitely. I'll go and mix the dipping sauce.
Example sentences
- 冬天吃火锅最舒服。Hotpot is the best in winter.
- 你要辣锅底还是清汤？Spicy broth or clear?
- 我们点个鸳鸯锅吧。Let's get a split pot.
- 把肉放进去涮一下。Dip the meat in to cook it.
- 肥牛一定要点。You have to order the sliced beef.
- 我自己去调蘸料。I'll go and mix my own dipping sauce.
- 北京人吃火锅喜欢麻酱。Beijingers like sesame paste with hotpot.
- 夏天晚上去吃烧烤。We go out for barbecue on summer nights.
- 韩式烤肉很好吃。Korean barbecue is delicious.
- 羊肉串来二十串！Twenty lamb skewers, please!
- 羊肉串上要多放孜然。Lots of cumin on the lamb skewers.
- 吃烧烤配啤酒。Barbecue goes with beer.
- 这个锅底太麻辣了！This broth is far too numbing and spicy!
- 我要不辣的。I'd like it not spicy.
- 这家火锅店是吃到饱的。This hotpot place is all you can eat.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Hotpot & barbecue speaking island has 8 everyday questions about hotpot & barbecue to prepare your own answers to.