Chinese word

热菜

Pronunciation

Pinyinrè cài

Meaning

  • nounhot dishes

Example

这家餐厅的热菜很受欢迎。zhè jiā cān tīng de rè cài hěn shòu huān yíng

The hot dishes at this restaurant are very popular.

Illustration for 热菜 (hot dishes)

More examples

请点一些热菜吧。qǐng diǎn yì xiē rè cài ba

Please order some hot dishes.

Core concept

Dishes served with their cooking heat still present, whether freshly made or kept warm.

Common phrases

  • 点热菜diǎn rè cài

    order hot dishes

  • 热菜上桌rè cài shàng zhuō

    hot dishes arrive at the table

  • 热菜和冷菜rè cài hé lěng cài

    hot dishes and cold dishes

Similar words

冷菜lěng cài: Dishes served chilled or at a cool temperature.
主菜zhǔ cài: The main dish that forms the central part of a meal.
辣菜là cài: Dishes seasoned with chili or other hot spices.
小菜xiǎo cài: A small portion of food served to accompany the main dish.

Definition in Chinese

上桌时温度较高、通常刚出锅或保温着供应的菜肴，与凉拌或冷盘相区别。shàng zhuō shí wēn dù jiào gāo tōng cháng gāng chū guō huò bǎo wēn zhe gōng yìng de cài yáo yǔ liáng bàn huò lěng pán xiāng qū bié

Word origin

热菜 (rècài, "hot dishes") combines 热 (rè, "hot") with 菜 (cài, "dish"), making serving temperature the defining feature.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may read hot as spicy, but 热菜 (rècài, "hot dishes") describes serving temperature; chili heat is a separate feature.

Other meanings

  • warm side dishesnoun
  • piping-hot dishesnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word