Chinese Conversation · Level 60
90 words
Chinese word
花椒
Pronunciation
Pinyinhuā jiāo
Meaning
- nounSichuan pepper
Example
这个菜要放一点花椒。zhè ge cài yào fàng yì diǎn huā jiāo
This dish needs a little Sichuan pepper.
More examples
我在菜市场买了些花椒，准备回家做菜。wǒ zài cài shì chǎng mǎi le xiē huā jiāo zhǔn bèi huí jiā zuò cài
I bought some Sichuan pepper at the market and plan to go home and cook.
Core concept
A small dried fruit spice that makes the tongue tingle and feel numb while adding a fresh citrus scent.
Common phrases
加点花椒jiā diǎn huā jiāo
add a little Sichuan pepper
买花椒mǎi huā jiāo
buy Sichuan pepper
花椒粉huā jiāo fěn
Sichuan pepper powder
Similar words
胡椒hú jiāo: A black or white spice that adds a sharp, warm taste and a strong aroma to food.
辣椒là jiāo: The red or green fruit of a plant used to give food a strong hot taste.
Definition in Chinese
芸香科植物的干燥果实，作为调味料以其使舌头麻木的“麻味”和清新的柑橘香著称，常用于川菜、火锅与调味油。yún xiāng kē zhí wù de gān zào guǒ shí zuò wéi tiáo wèi liào yǐ qí shǐ shé tou má mù de má wèi hé qīng xīn de gān jú xiāng zhù chēng cháng yòng yú chuān cài huǒ guō yǔ tiáo wèi yóu
Word origin
花椒 (huājiāo, "Sichuan pepper") combines 花 (huā, "flower") with 椒 (jiāo, "pepper"), using an old spice word for this aromatic fruit.
Usage tips
- Despite the English word pepper, this spice is not black pepper or chili pepper, and its signature effect is tingling numbness rather than ordinary pepper heat.
Other meanings
- green Sichuan peppernoun
Related words
- 花椒粉huā jiāo fěnSichuan pepper powdernoun
- 花椒油huā jiāo yóuSichuan pepper oilnoun