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How to Say ‘The oil used for stir-frying’ in Simplified Chinese

炒菜用的油

chǎo cài yòng de yóu

[chǎo cài yòng de yóu]

💬 Usage Tip: Everything before 的 describes the noun after it, so 炒菜用的 means "used for stir-frying" and describes 油. Try 喝的水 "water for drinking".

Phrase Breakdown

炒菜

chǎo cài

stir-frying dishes

炒 (chǎo) means 'stir-fry'. 菜 (cài) means 'dish / vegetables'. Together, 炒菜 means 'to cook / stir-fry'.

Example

妈妈在炒菜。

Mom is stir-frying.

Words in this phrase

炒

chǎo

[chǎo]

to stir-fry

To cook quickly in a hot wok with a little oil while stirring.

Example

他会炒鸡蛋。

He can stir-fry eggs.

菜

cài

[cài]

dish

A prepared dish of food served at a meal.

Example

这个菜很辣。

This dish is very spicy.

用的油

yòng de yóu

the oil used

用 (yòng) means 'to use'. 的 (de) links it to 油 (yóu), 'oil', so it means 'the oil that is used'.

Example

这是做饭用的油。

This is the oil used for cooking.

Words in this phrase

用

yòng

[yòng]

to use

To make use of something, such as a tool or ingredient.

Example

做菜用橄榄油。

Use olive oil for cooking.

的

de

[de]

the one (nominalizer)

Placed after a word to mean 'the ... one', replacing a noun.

Example

我要大的。

I want the big one.

油

yóu

[yóu]

oil

Cooking oil or fat.

Example

这个菜油太多了。

This dish has too much oil.

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