在家做饭
Cooking at home · a free Mandarin Chinese immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
我们今晚想吃什么？
What do we want to eat tonight?
Literal We tonight want eat what?
A natural way to ask about dinner plans at home.
- 什么 (shénme) is the question word for 'what'
- 想 (xiǎng) expresses desire or want
先把蔬菜洗干净。
First, wash the vegetables clean.
Literal First [把] vegetables wash clean.
Uses the 把 construction to place the object before the verb and indicate it is fully acted upon.
- 把 (bǎ) moves the object before the verb
- 先 (xiān) means 'first'
然后切葱和姜。
Then chop the scallions and ginger.
Literal Then chop scallions and ginger.
然后 links this step to the previous one, showing the natural flow of recipe instructions.
- 然后 (ránhòu) means 'then/after that'
- 切 (qiē) is the verb for chopping
锅里加两勺油，开中火。
Add two spoons of oil to the pan and turn on medium heat.
Literal Pan-inside add two spoons oil, open medium-fire.
Combines a measure word with a practical kitchen instruction in a single breath.
- 勺 (sháo) is the measure word for spoonfuls
- 中火 (zhōnghuǒ) means medium heat
把葱姜放进去，炒出香味。
Put the scallions and ginger in and stir-fry until fragrant.
Literal 把 scallions-ginger put in-go, stir-fry out fragrant-smell.
炒出 shows the action produces a result — the aroma emerges from the stir-frying.
- 炒 (chǎo) means to stir-fry
- 把...放进去 means 'put...into'
接着加入切好的肉片。
Next, add the pre-sliced meat.
Literal Next add-enter sliced-good meat-slices.
接着 continues the cooking sequence and 切好 shows the action is already completed.
- 接着 (jiēzhe) means 'next/continuing'
- 切好 (qiē hǎo) means 'already chopped/sliced'
加一点盐，味道会更好。
Add a little salt and it will taste better.
Literal Add a-little salt, taste will even-better.
会 here predicts a future result rather than expressing ability — a common pattern for cooking tips.
- 会 (huì) expresses future likelihood or prediction
- 一点 (yīdiǎn) means 'a little'
你觉得这道菜咸不咸？
Do you think this dish is salty?
Literal You feel this [measure]-dish salty not-salty?
The A-not-A pattern is one of the most natural ways to form a yes/no question in spoken Mandarin.
- A不A (A bù A) forms a yes/no question
- 道 (dào) is the measure word for dishes/courses
我觉得有点甜，可以少放一点糖。
I think it's a bit sweet; you can add a little less sugar.
Literal I feel a-bit sweet, can less-put a-little sugar.
有点 softens the adjective politely, and 可以 makes the suggestion sound friendly rather than critical.
- 有点 (yǒudiǎn) means 'a bit/somewhat'
- 可以 (kěyǐ) expresses a polite suggestion or permission
饭做好了，大家来吃吧！
The food is ready — everyone come and eat!
Literal Food make-good [completed], everyone come eat [suggestion]!
好了 signals completion and 吧 adds a warm, inviting tone to the announcement.
- 好了 (hǎo le) indicates something is finished or ready
- 吧 (ba) softens a statement into a friendly suggestion or invitation
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
切 (qiē)
to chop/cut
请把胡萝卜切成小块。(Qǐng bǎ húluóbo qiē chéng xiǎo kuài.)
Please cut the carrot into small pieces.
A key cooking verb for preparing solid ingredients.
炒 (chǎo)
to stir-fry
我们来炒个鸡蛋吧。(Wǒmen lái chǎo gè jīdàn ba.)
Let's stir-fry some eggs.
Fundamental Chinese cooking technique over high heat.
加 (jiā)
to add
加一点酱油进去。(Jiā yīdiǎn jiàngyóu jìnqù.)
Add a little soy sauce in.
Very common in recipe instructions for adding ingredients.
勺 (sháo)
spoon (measure word for spoonfuls)
放两勺糖就够了。(Fàng liǎng sháo táng jiù gòu le.)
Two spoons of sugar is enough.
Used to measure liquids and powdered ingredients.
香 (xiāng)
fragrant/delicious-smelling
这道菜真香！(Zhè dào cài zhēn xiāng!)
This dish smells so good!
High praise for food aroma; also means fragrant in general.
咸 (xián)
salty
汤太咸了，少放点盐吧。(Tāng tài xián le, shǎo fàng diǎn yán ba.)
The soup is too salty, so use less salt.
One of the five basic taste descriptors in Chinese cuisine.
然后 (rán hòu)
then/after that
先洗手，然后开始做饭。(Xiān xǐ shǒu, rán hòu kāishǐ zuò fàn.)
First wash your hands, then start cooking.
Links sequential steps in a process or recipe.
火 (huǒ)
heat/flame (cooking heat level)
用小火慢慢煮十分钟。(Yòng xiǎo huǒ màn màn zhǔ shí fēnzhōng.)
Cook slowly over low heat for ten minutes.
大火 = high heat, 小火 = low heat, 中火 = medium heat.
味道 (wèi dào)
taste/flavor
这个味道很不错！(Zhège wèidào hěn bùcuò!)
This flavor is really good!
The most common phrase for commenting on how food tastes.
会 (huì)
will/can (ability or prediction)
多放点料，味道会更好。(Duō fàng diǎn liào, wèidào huì gèng hǎo.)
Add more seasoning and the flavor will be better.
Used here to predict a result, not just to express ability.
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
周末，小李决定在家做一顿丰盛的晚餐。她先把蔬菜洗干净，然后切葱和姜。锅里加了两勺油，开中火，把葱姜放进去炒出香味。接着，她加入切好的肉片，翻炒几下。最后加一点盐和酱油，味道变得很好。饭做好了，家人们都说这道菜真香！
Sentence by sentence
决定在家做一顿丰盛的晚餐
decided to make a hearty dinner at home
决定 (juédìng) means 'to decide'; 丰盛 (fēngshèng) means 'abundant/hearty'; 顿 (dùn) is the measure word for meals
先把蔬菜洗干净
first washed the vegetables clean
先...然后 sets up a sequence; 把 + object + verb result is the classic disposal construction
炒出香味
stir-fry until fragrant
炒出 (chǎo chū) means the stir-frying action produces a result — the fragrant smell comes out
翻炒几下
tossed it a few times
翻炒 (fānchǎo) means to toss while frying; 几下 (jǐ xià) means 'a few times/strokes'
味道变得很好
the flavor became wonderful
变得 (biàn de) means 'became'; this structure describes a completed change of state
家人们都说这道菜真香
her whole family said the dish smelled amazing
都 (dōu) means 'all/everyone'; 真香 (zhēn xiāng) is a warm colloquial exclamation of delicious aroma
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Sequential Actions with 先…然后…接着
In Mandarin, cooking steps and any ordered sequence of actions are linked naturally using 先 (xiān = first), 然后 (ránhòu = then), and 接着 (jiēzhe = next/continuing). This trio makes recipes and instructions flow clearly and sounds natural in everyday speech.
先 + [Action 1]，然后 + [Action 2]，接着 + [Action 3]
先洗蔬菜，然后切好，接着放进锅里炒。 Xiān xǐ shūcài, ránhòu qiē hǎo, jiēzhe fàng jìn guō lǐ chǎo.
First wash the vegetables, then chop them, and next stir-fry them in the pan.
先开火，然后加油，接着把葱放进去。 Xiān kāi huǒ, ránhòu jiā yóu, jiēzhe bǎ cōng fàng jìn qù.
First turn on the heat, then add oil, and next put in the scallions.
先把肉腌好，然后冷藏，接着第二天再烤。 Xiān bǎ ròu yān hǎo, ránhòu lěng cáng, jiēzhe dì èr tiān zài kǎo.
First marinate the meat, then refrigerate it, and next grill it the following day.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to Mandarin: 'First wash the vegetables clean.'
Hint Use 先 to start, and 把 to indicate the object being acted on.
Complete the sentence using the correct sequence word: '___切葱和姜，___加入肉片。' (First chop the scallions and ginger, then add the meat slices.)
Hint Think about the two-step sequence connector: 先 … 然后
Translate to English: '你觉得这道菜咸不咸？'
Hint 咸不咸 is an A-not-A question pattern asking about saltiness.
Which sentence correctly describes adding oil to the pan?
Rewrite using 先…然后…接着 to combine these three steps: '把葱姜放进去。炒出香味。加入切好的肉片。'
Hint Place 先 before the first action, 然后 before the second, and 接着 before the third.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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