Welcome to this A2 Mandarin lesson! Today’s topic is all about cooking and preparing food. In this lesson, you will learn essential kitchen vocabulary—such as frying, preparing, vegetables, and meat—and how to discuss your dinner plans. This practical dialogue features two friends talking about making a meal together, helping you confidently talk about your culinary skills in Chinese!
中文單字 Chinese Vocabulary
- 煮飯 (zhǔfàn) – To cook (a meal)
- 廚房 (chúfáng) – Kitchen
- 準備 (zhǔnbèi) – To prepare
- 蔬菜 (shūcài) – Vegetables
- 豬肉 (zhūròu) – Pork
- 切 (qiē) – To cut / To slice
- 炒 (chǎo) – To stir-fry
- 湯 (tāng) – Soup
- 好喝 (hǎohē) – Delicious (for drinks/soups)
- 幫忙 (bāngmáng) – To help
對話內容 Chinese Conversation / Dialogue
小明(Xiǎomíng): 美美，妳今天晚上想吃什麼？
(Měimei, nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang xiǎng chī shénme?)
Meimei, what do you want to eat tonight?
美美(Měimei): 我不知道，我們今天自己煮飯好嗎？
(Wǒ bù zhīdào, wǒmen jīntiān zìjǐ zhǔfàn hǎo ma?)
I don’t know, shall we cook by ourselves today?
小明(Xiǎomíng): 好啊！我很喜歡煮飯。冰箱裡有什麼？
(Hǎo a! Wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhǔfàn. Bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu shénme?)
Okay! I really like cooking. What is in the fridge?
美美(Měimei): 冰箱裡有一些蔬菜和豬肉。
(Bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu yìxiē shūcài hé zhūròu.)
There are some vegetables and pork in the fridge.
小明(Xiǎomíng): 那我們做一個炒豬肉，再煮一個湯吧。
(Nà wǒmen zuò yígè chǎo zhūròu, zài zhǔ yígè tāng ba.)
Then let’s make a stir-fried pork and cook a soup.
美美(Měimei): 太好了，我可以幫忙做什麼？
(Tài hǎo le, wǒ kěyǐ bāngmáng zuò shénme?)
Great, what can I help with?
小明(Xiǎomíng): 妳可以幫我洗菜和切菜嗎？
(Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ xǐ cài hé qiē cài ma?)
Can you help me wash and cut the vegetables?
美美(Měimei): 沒問題，我現在去廚房準備。
(Méi wèntí, wǒ xiànzài qù chúfáng zhǔnbèi.)
No problem, I will go to the kitchen to prepare now.
小明(Xiǎomíng): 謝謝！我煮的湯很好喝喔。
(Xièxie! Wǒ zhǔ de tāng hěn hǎohē ō.)
Thank you! The soup I cook is very delicious.
美美(Měimei): 我好餓，真期待今天的晚餐！
(Wǒ hǎo è, zhēn qīdài jīntiān de wǎncān!)
I am so hungry, I’m really looking forward to today’s dinner!
問題延伸 Chinese Practice Questions
是非題 (True or False Reading Comprehension): (Please read the statements and decide if they are True [是] or False [非] based on the dialogue.)
- 小明今天晚上不想自己煮飯。 (Xiaoming doesn’t want to cook by himself tonight.)
- 冰箱裡有牛肉和蔬菜。 (There is beef and vegetables in the fridge.)
- 美美要幫小明洗菜和切菜。 (Meimei is going to help Xiaoming wash and cut the vegetables.)
問題討論 (Discussion Questions): (Try answering these questions using the vocabulary you just learned!)
- 你喜歡自己煮飯還是去餐廳吃飯？為什麼？ (Nǐ xǐhuān zìjǐ zhǔfàn háishì qù cāntīng chīfàn? Wèishénme?) Do you prefer cooking by yourself or eating at a restaurant? Why?
- 你的拿手菜是什麼？ (Nǐ de náshǒu cài shì shénme?) What is your signature dish (best dish)?
