🌶️⬇️

How to Say ‘Make it a little less spicy.’ in Simplified Chinese

少放点辣。

shǎo fàng diǎn là

[shaow fahng dyen la]

💬 Usage Tip: 少放点 (shǎo fàng diǎn) means "put in a bit less", and you can swap in any ingredient: 少放点盐 "less salt", 少放点油 "less oil".

🇨🇳 In China: Kitchens expect requests like this. In Sichuan or Hunan places, "less spicy" can still be quite hot, so some people say 不要辣 "no spice" instead.

Phrase Breakdown

少放

shǎo fàng

put in less

少 (shǎo) means 'less' and 放 (fàng) means 'put in'. Use it to ask the kitchen to cut back on an ingredient.

Example

少放盐。

Less salt, please.

Words in this phrase

少

shǎo

[shaow]

less; fewer

Used to ask for a smaller amount of something.

Example

请少放一点盐。

Please add a little less salt.

放

fàng

[fahng]

to put; to add

Commonly used when asking someone to add or not add an ingredient.

Example

请不要放肉。

Please don’t add meat.

点辣。

diǎn là

a bit of spice

点 is short for 一点, meaning 'a little'. 辣 (là) means 'spicy' or 'chili'.

Example

我能吃一点辣。

I can eat a little spicy food.

Words in this phrase

点

diǎn

[dyen]

a bit; a little

After an adjective or verb, it softens the tone to mean 'a little more/less.'

Example

路上慢点，别着急。

Go a little slower on the way; don’t rush.

辣

là

[la]

spicy; hot

Describes spicy food, especially food with chili heat.

Example

我们不要太辣，可以吗？

We don't want it too spicy, is that okay?

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