Ask about sauce ingredients | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Ask about sauce ingredients to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我可以问一下这份酱汁里的配料吗？

wǒ kě yǐ wèn yí xià zhè fèn jiàng zhī lǐ de pèi liào ma Could I ask about the ingredients in this sauce?

里面有牛奶和一点大蒜。

lǐ miàn yǒu niú nǎi hé yì diǎn dà suàn It contains milk and a little garlic.

我不能吃含牛奶的食物。

wǒ bù néng chī hán niú nǎi de shí wù I can't have milk.

我可以把酱汁放在一边。

wǒ kě yǐ bǎ jiàng zhī fàng zài yì biān I can keep the sauce on the side.

那样对我更合适。

nà yàng duì wǒ gèng hé shì That would work better for me.

你还需要避免吃别的食物吗？

nǐ hái xū yào bì miǎn chī bié de shí wù ma Are there any other foods you need to avoid?

大蒜没问题。

dà suàn méi wèn tí Garlic is fine.

我会给你准备一盘不加酱汁的菜。

wǒ huì gěi nǐ zhǔn bèi yì pán bù jiā jiàng zhī de cài I'll prepare your plate without the sauce.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker as “I” or “me” in the dialogue. It is used before an action or statement, as in “我可以问一下” and “我不能吃含牛奶的食物”. Use it when stating your own needs or actions.

可以 “可以” expresses permission here: “May I ask...?” in “我可以问一下这份酱汁里的配料吗？”. It appears before the requested action and is followed by “吗” to make a yes-no question. Use it when politely asking whether an action is allowed.

问 “问” means “ask” in “问一下这份酱汁里的配料”. It introduces the information the speaker wants to request, here the sauce ingredients. Use “问” when asking someone about a topic or item.

一下 In “问一下”, “一下” softens the request and makes the asking sound brief and less direct. It follows the verb “问” in this polite question. A verb followed by “一下” is useful when making a light, courteous request.

这 “这” means “this” and identifies the sauce currently being discussed in “这份酱汁”. It comes before the classifier “份” and the noun. Use it when referring to a nearby or currently mentioned item.

份 “份” is the classifier used for a portion or serving in “这份酱汁”. The structure “这份酱汁” identifies one particular serving of sauce. Use “份” before a noun when referring to a portion of something.

酱汁 “酱汁” means “sauce” in “这份酱汁里的配料” and “把酱汁放在一边”. It is the food item whose ingredients are being checked and which may be set aside. Use it when discussing sauce as part of a meal.

里 “里” means “in” or “inside” in “酱汁里的配料”, showing that the ingredients are contained in the sauce. The structure is a noun followed by “里” and then “的” before another noun. Use it to describe something located inside or contained in something else.

的 In “酱汁里的配料”, “的” links the preceding description to the noun “配料”. The phrase means the ingredients that are in the sauce. Use “的” to connect a describing phrase with the noun it modifies.

配料 “配料” means “ingredients” in “这份酱汁里的配料”. It refers to the items that make up the sauce, which are being requested as information. Use it when asking or talking about the ingredients in food.

吗 “吗” marks “我可以问一下这份酱汁里的配料吗？” as a yes-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence after the request. Use it when asking whether a statement or action is the case.

里面 “里面” means “inside” or “in it” in “里面有牛奶和一点大蒜”. Here it refers back to the sauce and introduces what it contains. Use “里面有” to describe items found inside a container, dish, or food.

有 “有” means “contains” in “里面有牛奶和一点大蒜”. It introduces the ingredients found inside the sauce. The reusable structure is a location or container followed by “有” and the item that is present.

牛奶 “牛奶” means “milk” in “里面有牛奶和一点大蒜”. It is the ingredient that the speaker cannot have when it occurs in food. Use it when identifying milk as an ingredient or food item.

和 “和” means “and” and joins “牛奶” and “一点大蒜” in the ingredient list. It connects two items of the same kind. Use “和” when listing multiple ingredients or other items together.

一点 “一点” means “a little” in “一点大蒜”. It shows that the amount of garlic in the sauce is small. Use “一点” before a noun when referring to a small quantity.

大蒜 “大蒜” means “garlic” in “一点大蒜” and “大蒜没问题”. It is another sauce ingredient, but unlike milk, it is acceptable for the speaker. Use it when discussing garlic as an ingredient or food.

不能 “不能” expresses that the speaker cannot eat something in “我不能吃含牛奶的食物”. It states a restriction on the action that follows, rather than simply describing preference. Use “不能” before an action when explaining a food or activity you are unable to do.

吃 “吃” means “eat” or “have as food” in “不能吃含牛奶的食物”. It comes after “不能” and before the food phrase. Use it before a food item when explaining what someone can or cannot eat.

含 “含” means “contain” in “含牛奶的食物”. It describes food that has milk as one of its contents. The structure “含牛奶的食物” uses the containing phrase before “的” and the food noun.

食物 “食物” means “food” in “含牛奶的食物”. It is the general noun modified by the phrase describing what the food contains. Use it when talking about food items in a general way.

把 “把” marks “酱汁” as the object being deliberately handled in “把酱汁放在一边”. It places the object before the action and its result or location. Use the structure “把” plus an object when explaining how something is moved, placed, or changed.

放 “放” means “put” or “place” in “把酱汁放在一边”. It describes moving the sauce to a specified location. Use “放在” when saying where an item is placed.

在 In “放在一边”, “在” marks the location where the sauce is placed. It follows “放” and comes before the location phrase “一边”. Use “放在” to describe placing something at or in a particular location.

一边 “一边” means “the side” or “aside” in “把酱汁放在一边”. Together, “放在一边” means to place the sauce off to the side. Use this expression when separating an item from the main food or activity.

那样 “那样” means “that way” in “那样对我更合适”. It refers to the arrangement just proposed, namely keeping the sauce on the side. Use it to refer back to a previously mentioned way of doing something.

对 In “对我更合适”, “对” means “for” and identifies the person affected by the suitability. The structure “对” plus a person plus an evaluation describes how something is for that person. Use it when expressing whether an arrangement suits someone.

更 “更” means “more” or “better” in “对我更合适”. It shows that the proposed arrangement is more suitable than another option. Use “更” before an adjective when comparing suitability or degree.

合适 “合适” means “suitable” or “appropriate” in “那样对我更合适”. It evaluates the arrangement from the speaker’s perspective. The pattern “对我更合适” is useful when explaining that an option works better for you.

你 “你” refers to the person being addressed as “you” in “你还需要避免吃别的食物吗？” and “给你准备”. It can identify the person whose needs are being discussed or for whom something is prepared. Use it when addressing one person directly.

还 “还” means “also” or “additionally” in “你还需要避免吃别的食物吗？”. It asks whether there are any further restrictions beyond the one already mentioned. Use it before an action or need when asking about an additional item.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “你还需要避免吃别的食物吗？”. It introduces the action or requirement that may be necessary for the person. Use “需要” before an action when asking what someone needs to do.

避免 “避免” means “avoid” in “避免吃别的食物”. It introduces something that the person should not eat. Use “避免” before an action or item when discussing something to stay away from.

别的 “别的” means “other” in “别的食物”. It refers to food items different from the one already being discussed. Use “别的” before a noun when asking about additional or different items.

没问题 The whole expression “没问题” means “fine” or “no problem” in “大蒜没问题”. Within it, “没” expresses absence or negation and “问题” means “problem”, but together they reassure the listener that the garlic is acceptable. Use it to confirm that an item or arrangement is acceptable.

会 “会” indicates an intended future action in “我会给你准备一盘不加酱汁的菜”. It shows that the speaker plans to prepare the food. Use “会” before an action when stating what you will do.

给 In “给你准备”, “给” means “for” and marks the person who will benefit from the preparation. The structure places the person after “给” and before the action. Use it when saying that an action is done for someone.

准备 “准备” means “prepare” in “给你准备一盘不加酱汁的菜”. It describes making the requested plate ready. Use it before the item being prepared, as in the dialogue’s structure with “一盘” and “菜”.

一盘 “一盘” means “one plate” or “one serving” in “一盘不加酱汁的菜”. “一” gives the number and “盘” classifies the serving. Use it before “菜” when referring to one plate of food.

不加 “不加” means “without adding” or “not add” in “不加酱汁的菜”. It describes a dish prepared with no sauce added. The structure “不加酱汁的菜” places the preparation condition before “的” and the food noun.

菜 “菜” means “dish” or “food” in “一盘不加酱汁的菜”. It is the meal item being prepared on a plate. Use it after a classifier such as “一盘” when referring to a dish or serving of food.

Grammar Points

里面有 + 名词

这份酱汁里面有一点牛奶。

zhè fèn jiàng zhī lǐ miàn yǒu yì diǎn niú nǎi

This sauce contains a little milk.

里面有 means “contains” or “has inside.” The item being contained follows 有.

不加 + 名词

不加大蒜。

bù jiā dà suàn

Without adding garlic.

不加 means “without adding.” 不 comes before the verb 加 to form a negative verb phrase.

Chinese Vocabulary

大蒜 noun

dà suàn garlic

放在一边 phrase

fàng zài yì biān put on the side; set aside

还 adv

hái still; also

合适 adj

hé shì suitable; appropriate

酱汁 noun

jiàng zhī sauce

里面有 phrase

lǐ miàn yǒu contains; has inside

牛奶 noun

niú nǎi milk

配料 noun

pèi liào ingredients

问一下 phrase

wèn yí xià ask briefly; ask

需要 verb

xū yào need

一点 phrase

yì diǎn a little

这份 det

zhè fèn this portion; this serving

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

put on the side; set aside

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放在一边

this portion; this serving

Show Answer

这份

ask briefly; ask

Show Answer

问一下

need

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需要