Checking ingredients before cooking | Learn Chinese in English

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Dialogue

开始做饭前，我们有哪些食材？

Kāishǐ zuòfàn qián, wǒmen yǒu nǎxiē shícái? Before we start cooking, what ingredients do we have?

这个食谱需要洋葱和西红柿。

Zhège shípǔ xūyào yángcōng hé xīhóngshì. The recipe needs onions and tomatoes.

我们有西红柿，但洋葱用完了。

Wǒmen yǒu xīhóngshì, dàn yángcōng yòng wán le. We have tomatoes, but we're out of onions.

我们可以用小葱代替吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ yòng xiǎocōng dàitì ma? Can we use green onions instead?

也许可以，但味道会不一样。

Yěxǔ kěyǐ, dàn wèidào huì bú yíyàng. Maybe, but the taste will be different.

那我去街角的小店买洋葱。

Nà wǒ qù jiējiǎo de xiǎodiàn mǎi yángcōng. Then I'll buy onions from the corner shop.

我们还需要量米。

Wǒmen hái xūyào liáng mǐ. We still need to measure the rice.

我回来后会量出四个人吃的米。

Wǒ huílái hòu huì liáng chū sì ge rén chī de mǐ. I'll measure enough rice for four people after I get back.

Word by Word

开始 “开始” means to start in “开始做饭前”, referring to the beginning of cooking. It commonly appears before an activity, as in “开始做饭”. You can use it when saying that an activity is about to begin.

做饭 “做饭” means to cook or prepare food in “开始做饭前”. It names the activity that begins after this phrase. A common pattern is “开始做饭” when talking about starting to cook at home.

前 “前” means before in the time expression “做饭前”, meaning before cooking. It follows an activity or event to place another action earlier in time. You can use “……前” to say what happens before an activity.

我们 “我们” means we or us in “我们有哪些食材？”, referring to the two people speaking together. It is the subject of “有” here. Use it when including yourself and at least one other person in the same situation.

有 “有” means have or possess in “我们有哪些食材？”, asking what ingredients are available. It appears before the item being possessed or available. A common question pattern is “有什么？” or, with a specified set, “有哪些食材？”.

哪些 “哪些” asks which items or what items in “有哪些食材？”. It is used before a noun when asking about several possible items. Here it combines with “食材” to ask which ingredients are available.

食材 “食材” means ingredients or cooking materials in “有哪些食材？”. It refers to the food items used for cooking. You can use it after “需要” or “有” when discussing ingredients for a dish.

这个 “这个” means this in “这个食谱”, pointing to the recipe being discussed. It comes before the noun it identifies. Use “这个” when referring to a particular nearby or currently discussed item.

食谱 “食谱” means recipe in “这个食谱需要洋葱和西红柿”. It is the recipe that specifies the ingredients needed. A common pattern is “食谱需要……” when listing ingredients for a dish.

需要 “需要” means need or require in “食谱需要洋葱和西红柿”. It introduces what is necessary for the recipe. You can reuse the pattern “需要 + item” when saying that something is needed.

洋葱 “洋葱” means onion or onions in “洋葱和西红柿” and “买洋葱”. It is an ingredient in this cooking conversation. Use it after verbs such as “需要” or “买” when talking about onions.

和 “和” means and in “洋葱和西红柿”, joining two ingredients in a list. It connects nouns or noun phrases. You can use “A和B” to name two things together.

西红柿 “西红柿” means tomato or tomatoes in “洋葱和西红柿” and “我们有西红柿”. It is one of the ingredients available here. Use it after “有” when saying that tomatoes are on hand.

但 “但” means but in “但洋葱用完了”, introducing a contrast with the statement that they have tomatoes. It connects two contrasting parts of a sentence. You can use “但” when the second fact differs from or limits the first.

用完 “用完” means use up or be used up in “洋葱用完了”, saying that the onions have all been used and none remain. It describes an item reaching the result of being completely used. A common pattern is “东西用完了” when a supply has run out.

了 The “了” in “洋葱用完了” shows that the situation has reached a new result: the onions are now used up. It comes at the end of this statement. Use sentence-final “了” when reporting a relevant change or newly completed situation.

可以 “可以” means can or may in “我们可以用小葱代替吗？”, asking whether using green onions is possible or acceptable. It comes before the proposed action “用小葱代替”. You can use “可以 + verb” to ask for permission or ask whether an action is possible.

用 “用” means use in “用小葱代替”, referring to using green onions for the cooking task. It is followed by the item being used. A common pattern is “用 + item + verb” when saying what tool or ingredient is used for an action.

小葱 “小葱” means green onions or scallions in “用小葱代替”. It is the ingredient proposed as a replacement for onions. Use it after “用” when describing green onions as the ingredient used.

代替 “代替” means replace or substitute for in “用小葱代替”, where green onions would take the place of onions. It identifies the replacement relationship between two items. A common pattern is “用A代替B”, with the replacement item before “代替” and the original item after it.

吗 “吗” turns “我们可以用小葱代替吗？” into a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the question. Use it after a statement when asking whether that statement is true, possible, or acceptable.

也许 “也许” means maybe or perhaps in “也许可以”, showing that the speaker is not certain but thinks the proposal may work. It commonly appears before the possibility being considered. You can use it when giving a cautious answer rather than a definite one.

味道 “味道” means taste or flavor in “味道会不一样”, referring to how the food will taste. It is the topic of the predicted difference. Use it with expressions such as “味道不一样” when comparing the taste of food.

会 “会” indicates a predicted future result in “味道会不一样”, meaning the taste will be different. It comes before the expected description or action. Use “会 + description” when saying what is likely to happen.

不 “不” means not in “不一样”, making the meaning different from “一样”. It comes before the word or phrase being negated. A common pattern is “不一样” when saying that two things differ.

一样 “一样” means the same or alike in “不一样”, which means not the same. It is used here to compare the expected taste with the original taste. Use “A和B一样” or “不一样” when describing similarity or difference.

那 “那” means then or in that case in “那我去街角的小店买洋葱”, connecting the speaker’s decision to the preceding situation. It introduces the action chosen as a result. You can use “那” before a response or plan that follows from what was just said.

我 “我” means I or me in “那我去街角的小店买洋葱”, identifying the speaker as the person who will go and buy onions. It is the subject of the action. Use it when describing your own action or decision.

去 “去” means go in “去街角的小店买洋葱”, describing movement to the shop for a purpose. It can be followed by a place and then an action. A useful pattern is “去 + place + verb”, as in “去街角的小店买洋葱”.

街角 “街角” means street corner in “街角的小店”, identifying the location associated with the shop. It appears before “的” to describe which shop. You can use it when giving a location near the corner of a street.

的 The “的” in “街角的小店” links the describing phrase “街角” to the noun “小店”, meaning the small shop at the street corner. It appears between the modifier and the noun. A common pattern is “描述语 + 的 + 名词”, such as “街角的小店”.

小店 “小店” means small shop in “街角的小店”. It is the place where the speaker will buy onions. Use it after a location phrase, as in “街角的小店”, to identify a small shop in a particular place.

买 “买” means buy in “买洋葱”, describing the action planned for obtaining onions. It comes before the item being purchased. A common pattern is “买 + item”, such as “买洋葱”.

还 “还” means still in “我们还需要量米”, showing that measuring the rice remains necessary. It comes before “需要” and adds the idea that this task has not yet been completed. Use “还需要 + verb” for a task that remains to be done.

量 “量” means measure in “量米”, referring to measuring the rice. It comes before the item being measured. You can use the pattern “量 + item” when measuring an amount of something.

米 “米” means rice in “量米” and “四个人吃的米”. It is the food that needs to be measured for the meal. Use it after “量” when talking about measuring rice for cooking.

回来 “回来” means come back or get back in “回来后”, referring to returning before measuring the rice. It describes movement back to the relevant place. You can use “回来后” to say what will happen after someone returns.

后 “后” means after in “回来后”, placing the measuring action after the speaker gets back. It follows the event that happens first. A common pattern is “verb + 后”, as in “回来后”.

量出 “量出” means measure out in “量出四个人吃的米”, emphasizing measuring a suitable amount of rice. The “出” shows the measured amount being obtained as a result. Use “量出 + amount or item” when measuring out a defined quantity.

个 “个” is the general measure word used in “四个人”, the expression for four people. It comes between the number and “人”. Use “number + 个 + noun” when counting people or other items that take this general classifier.

人 “人” means person or people in “四个人吃的米”, identifying who the rice is intended for. It follows the number and classifier in “四个人”. You can use “几个人” or “number + 个 + 人” when talking about the number of people.

吃 “吃” means eat in “四个人吃的米”, describing the activity the four people will do with the rice. In this phrase, it helps specify rice intended for people to eat. Use it in the pattern “人吃的 + food” when identifying food for someone to eat.

Grammar Points

动词 + 完 + 了

洋葱用完了。

Yángcōng yòng wán le.

The onions have run out.

用完了表示某物已经全部用完；完强调动作的结果，了表示情况发生了变化。

还 + 动词

还需要米。

Hái xūyào mǐ.

Still need rice.

还放在动词前，表示某个动作或状态持续到现在，相当于“still”。

Chinese Vocabulary

代替 verb

dàitì replace; instead of

开始 verb

kāishǐ start

食材 noun

shícái ingredient

食谱 noun

shípǔ recipe

味道 noun

wèidào taste; flavor

西红柿 noun

xīhóngshì tomato

小葱 noun

xiǎocōng green onion

需要 verb

xūyào need

洋葱 noun

yángcōng onion

也许 adv

yěxǔ maybe

用完 verb

yòng wán use up; run out of 用完了

做饭 verb

zuòfàn cook

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

onion

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洋葱

green onion

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小葱

recipe

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食谱

start

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开始