家乡的萝卜饼
Turnip Pancakes in My Hometown
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A nostalgic article about traditional turnip pancakes from the author's hometown.
44 new words
家乡jiāxiānghometown, native place
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
萝卜luóboturnip, radish
故乡的画面令我怀念，不只是青山和小河，还有外婆做的萝卜饼。
The images of my hometown make me nostalgic: not only the green hills and small river, but also my grandmother's radish pancakes.
怀念huáiniànto miss, to feel nostalgic
故乡的画面令我怀念，不只是青山和小河，还有外婆做的萝卜饼。
The images of my hometown make me nostalgic: not only the green hills and small river, but also my grandmother's radish pancakes.
色彩sècǎicolor
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
想念xiǎngniànto recall with longing, to miss
每次打电话回家，母亲总说家里一切平安；我想念故乡时，就试着照着记忆去做。
Whenever I telephone home, my mother says all is well there; when I miss my hometown, I try to make them from memory.
青qīnggreenish blue
故乡的画面令我怀念，不只是青山和小河，还有外婆做的萝卜饼。
The images of my hometown make me nostalgic: not only the green hills and small river, but also my grandmother's radish pancakes.
紫zǐpurple
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
赏心悦目shǎngxīn-yuèmùpleasing to both the eye and the mind
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
般bānsort, kind
一般的蔬菜，在她手里也能变得鲜嫩。
In her hands, ordinary vegetables could become fresh and tender.
清淡qīngdànlightly flavored and not greasy
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
可口kěkǒutasty, delicious
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
夸kuāto praise
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
橘子júzitangerine
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
梨lípear
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
炒chǎoto stir-fry
萝卜可以炒，也可以煮，做饼最能留住香气。
煮zhǔto boil, to cook
萝卜可以炒，也可以煮，做饼最能留住香气。
油炸yóuzháto deep-fry
锅烧热以后，她用文火煎，不急着油炸。
Once the pan was hot, she fried it gently over a low flame instead of deep-frying it.
切qiēto cut, to chop, to slice
家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。
Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears.
丝sīshred, anything threadlike
外婆先把萝卜切成细丝，放进盆里搅拌。
搅拌jiǎobànto stir, to mix
外婆先把萝卜切成细丝，放进盆里搅拌。
均匀jūnyúneven, well-distributed
原料很简单：少许面粉、盐和水，揉好以后面团很均匀。
原料yuánliàoraw material
原料很简单：少许面粉、盐和水，揉好以后面团很均匀。
擀gǎnto roll (dough etc. with a rolling pin)
她常说，做饭像过日子，不能只图快，擀面时要把皮擀得薄，折叠时又要留出空气。
薄báothin
她常说，做饭像过日子，不能只图快，擀面时要把皮擀得薄，折叠时又要留出空气。
折叠zhédiéto fold
她常说，做饭像过日子，不能只图快，擀面时要把皮擀得薄，折叠时又要留出空气。
透明tòumíngtransparent
透明的水汽从边缘冒出，像给厨房添了一层暖意。
Transparent steam rose from the edge as if adding a layer of warmth to the kitchen.
淋línto sprinkle, to spatter
她往馅儿里淋一点酱油，再滴几滴醋，卷成一卷，再轻轻压平，在边缘捏出一圈花纹。
She drizzled the filling with a little soy sauce and a few drops of vinegar, rolled it up, pressed it flat, and pinched a ring of pattern around the edge.
圈quāncircle, ring
她往馅儿里淋一点酱油，再滴几滴醋，卷成一卷，再轻轻压平，在边缘捏出一圈花纹。
She drizzled the filling with a little soy sauce and a few drops of vinegar, rolled it up, pressed it flat, and pinched a ring of pattern around the edge.
烫tàngto scald, to burn; very hot, scalding
等我忍不住伸手，她会笑着说：还烫，等一等，别烫着手。
When I could not resist reaching for it, she would laugh and say: it is still hot, wait a moment, mind your hand.
盖gàito cover; lid, cover
趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。
When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake.
预防yùfángto guard against, to prevent
趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。
When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake.
糊húto be burnt
趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。
When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake.
文火wénhuǒslow fire, gentle heat
锅烧热以后，她用文火煎，不急着油炸。
Once the pan was hot, she fried it gently over a low flame instead of deep-frying it.
闻wénto smell
趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。
When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake.
趁chènto take advantage of, (do...) at the time when
趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。
When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake.
口味kǒuwèitaste, flavor
它并不华丽，只因里面有家人的耐心和我童年的口味。
It is not elaborate; it holds my family's patience and the taste of my childhood.
少许shǎoxǔa little, some
原料很简单：少许面粉、盐和水，揉好以后面团很均匀。
酱油jiàngyóusoy sauce
她往馅儿里淋一点酱油，再滴几滴醋，卷成一卷，再轻轻压平，在边缘捏出一圈花纹。
She drizzled the filling with a little soy sauce and a few drops of vinegar, rolled it up, pressed it flat, and pinched a ring of pattern around the edge.
醋cùvinegar
她往馅儿里淋一点酱油，再滴几滴醋，卷成一卷，再轻轻压平，在边缘捏出一圈花纹。
She drizzled the filling with a little soy sauce and a few drops of vinegar, rolled it up, pressed it flat, and pinched a ring of pattern around the edge.
焦jiāoburnt, scorched
饼的一面变焦黄，就翻到另一面，盖上锅盖焖一会儿。
When one side turned golden brown, she turned it over, covered the pan, and let it cook briefly.
嫩nènsoft, tender
一般的蔬菜，在她手里也能变得鲜嫩。
In her hands, ordinary vegetables could become fresh and tender.
特色tèsècharacteristic, distinctive feature
如今我在别处吃过很多特色小吃，也见过更复杂的做法，却仍对这块饼有点痴迷。
Now I have eaten many local specialities elsewhere and seen more complicated methods, yet I remain a little obsessed with this pancake.
痰tánphlegm, sputum
她还说，萝卜能化痰，天冷咳嗽时多吃一点没坏处。
She also said radish clears phlegm, so it does no harm to eat more of it when the cold weather brings a cough.
平安píng'ānsafe, well
每次打电话回家，母亲总说家里一切平安；我想念故乡时，就试着照着记忆去做。
Whenever I telephone home, my mother says all is well there; when I miss my hometown, I try to make them from memory.
Listen to the text
故乡的画面令我怀念，不只是青山和小河，还有外婆做的萝卜饼。家乡的人都知道，冬季菜市场摆着青萝卜和紫萝卜，色彩赏心悦目；切开以后味道清淡却可口，邻居总夸它比橘子和梨还让人开胃。一般的蔬菜，在她手里也能变得鲜嫩。
gù xiāng de huà miàn lìng wǒ huáiniàn， bù zhǐ shì qīng shān hé xiǎo hé， hái yǒu wài pó zuò de luóbo bǐng。 jiāxiāng de rén dōu zhī dào， dōng jì cài shì chǎng bǎi zhe qīng luóbo hé zǐ luóbo， sècǎi shǎngxīn-yuèmù； qiē kāi yǐ hòu wèi dào qīngdàn què kěkǒu， lín jū zǒng kuā tā bǐ júzi hé lí hái ràng rén kāi wèi。 yī bān de shū cài， zài tā shǒu lǐ yě néng biàn dé xiān nèn。
The images of my hometown make me nostalgic: not only the green hills and small river, but also my grandmother's radish pancakes. Everyone there knows that winter markets offer green and purple radishes, pleasing to the eye; once cut, they taste light yet delicious, and the neighbours always praised them as more appetite-opening than oranges and pears. In her hands, ordinary vegetables could become fresh and tender.
外婆先把萝卜切成细丝，放进盆里搅拌。原料很简单：少许面粉、盐和水，揉好以后面团很均匀。她常说，做饭像过日子，不能只图快，擀面时要把皮擀得薄，折叠时又要留出空气。萝卜可以炒，也可以煮，做饼最能留住香气。
wài pó xiān bǎ luóbo qiē chéng xì sī， fàng jìn pén lǐ jiǎobàn。 yuánliào hěn jiǎn dān： shǎoxǔ miàn fěn、 yán hé shuǐ， róu hǎo yǐ hòu miàn tuán hěn jūnyún。 tā cháng shuō， zuò fàn xiàng guò rì zi， bù néng zhǐ tú kuài， gǎn miàn shí yào bǎ pí gǎn dé báo， zhédié shí yòu yào liú chū kōng qì。 luóbo kě yǐ chǎo， yě kě yǐ zhǔ， zuò bǐng zuì néng liú zhù xiāng qì。
My grandmother first cut the radish into fine shreds and mixed them in a bowl. The ingredients were simple: a little flour, salt, and water, which made an even dough once kneaded. She often said cooking is like living: one cannot seek speed alone. The dough must be rolled thin, but air must remain when it is folded. Radish can be stir-fried or boiled, but making pancakes best preserves its fragrance.
她往馅儿里淋一点酱油，再滴几滴醋，卷成一卷，再轻轻压平，在边缘捏出一圈花纹。锅烧热以后，她用文火煎，不急着油炸。趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。她还说，萝卜能化痰，天冷咳嗽时多吃一点没坏处。
tā wǎng xiàn ér lǐ lín yī diǎn jiàngyóu， zài dī jǐ dī cù， juǎn chéng yī juǎn， zài qīng qīng yā píng， zài biān yuán niē chū yī quān huā wén。 guō shāo rè yǐ hòu， tā yòng wénhuǒ jiān， bù jí zhe yóuzhá。 chèn xiāng wèi gāng piāo chū lái shí， tā zǒng huì wén yī wén； yóu ruò jiàn qǐ lái， biàn yòng guō gài dǎng yī dǎng， yùfáng rè yóu jiàn dào shǒu shàng， miǎn dé huǒ tài dà bǎ bǐng jiān hú。 tā hái shuō， luóbo néng huà tán， tiān lěng ké sòu shí duō chī yī diǎn méi huài chù。
She drizzled the filling with a little soy sauce and a few drops of vinegar, rolled it up, pressed it flat, and pinched a ring of pattern around the edge. Once the pan was hot, she fried it gently over a low flame instead of deep-frying it. When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake. She also said radish clears phlegm, so it does no harm to eat more of it when the cold weather brings a cough.
饼的一面变焦黄，就翻到另一面，盖上锅盖焖一会儿。透明的水汽从边缘冒出，像给厨房添了一层暖意。等我忍不住伸手，她会笑着说：还烫，等一等，别烫着手。
bǐng de yī miàn biàn jiāo huáng， jiù fān dào lìng yī miàn， gài shàng guō gài mèn yī huì ér。 tòumíng de shuǐ qì cóng biān yuán mào chū， xiàng gěi chú fáng tiān le yī céng nuǎn yì。 děng wǒ rěn bù zhù shēn shǒu， tā huì xiào zhe shuō： hái tàng， děng yī děng， bié tàng zhe shǒu。
When one side turned golden brown, she turned it over, covered the pan, and let it cook briefly. Transparent steam rose from the edge as if adding a layer of warmth to the kitchen. When I could not resist reaching for it, she would laugh and say: it is still hot, wait a moment, mind your hand.
如今我在别处吃过很多特色小吃，也见过更复杂的做法，却仍对这块饼有点痴迷。它并不华丽，只因里面有家人的耐心和我童年的口味。
rú jīn wǒ zài bié chù chī guò hěn duō tèsè xiǎo chī， yě jiàn guò gèng fù zá de zuò fǎ， què réng duì zhè kuài bǐng yǒu diǎn chī mí。 tā bìng bù huá lì， zhǐ yīn lǐ miàn yǒu jiā rén de nài xīn hé wǒ tóng nián de kǒuwèi。
Now I have eaten many local specialities elsewhere and seen more complicated methods, yet I remain a little obsessed with this pancake. It is not elaborate; it holds my family's patience and the taste of my childhood.
每次打电话回家，母亲总说家里一切平安；我想念故乡时，就试着照着记忆去做。即使擀得不够圆、味道也不完全一样，厨房里那股萝卜香仍提醒我：平凡的食物，常能把远处的人和过去的日子重新连在一起。
měi cì dǎ diàn huà huí jiā， mǔ qīn zǒng shuō jiā lǐ yī qiē píng'ān； wǒ xiǎngniàn gù xiāng shí， jiù shì zhe zhào zhe jì yì qù zuò。 jí shǐ gǎn dé bù gòu yuán、 wèi dào yě bù wán quán yī yàng， chú fáng lǐ nà gǔ luóbo xiāng réng tí xǐng wǒ： píng fán de shí wù， cháng néng bǎ yuǎn chù de rén hé guò qù de rì zi zhòng xīn lián zài yī qǐ。
Whenever I telephone home, my mother says all is well there; when I miss my hometown, I try to make them from memory. Even if I do not roll them round enough and the taste is not exactly the same, the radish scent in the kitchen still reminds me that ordinary food can connect distant people with past days again.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
一般的蔬菜，在她手里也能变得鲜嫩。In her hands, ordinary vegetables could become fresh and tender.
A +般+ Adjective/Verb
般. '般' is used after nouns to mean 'like' or 'similar to'. It's often used in written language to create comparisons.
紫的像山泉般清淡可口。
Zǐ de xiàng shānquán bān qīngdàn kěkǒu.
The purple ones are as light and delicious as mountain spring water.
趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake.
Subject +闻+ Object
闻. '闻' can mean both 'to smell' (with the nose) and 'to hear' (more formal/literary than 听). When used as a verb, it often indicates information or news.
能闻到香味时，便可开锅了。
Néng wéndào xiāngwèi shí, biàn kě kāiguō le.
When you can smell the fragrance, you can open the pot.
趁香味刚飘出来时，她总会闻一闻；油若溅起来，便用锅盖挡一挡，预防热油溅到手上，免得火太大把饼煎糊。When the scent first rose, she always smelled it; if oil splattered, she shielded herself with the lid to prevent hot oil from reaching her hands, and kept the heat from scorching the pancake.
趁+(Time/Opportunity)+ Verb
趁. '趁' is a preposition meaning 'to take advantage of' or 'while'. It indicates doing something at an opportune moment.
萝卜饼要趁热吃。
Luóbo bǐng yào chèn rè chī.
Turnip pancakes should be eaten while hot.
Which word means “vinegar”?
Culture
中国菜 - Chinese Cuisine
Chinese food is very rich because regions, climates, and local products differ. Wheat foods are common in the north, rice is the main food in many southern places, coastal areas make good use of fish and seafood, and inland areas also have their own ways of seasoning. A table of dishes values not only taste but also the balance of color, aroma, and nutrition. When family or friends eat together, sharing dishes is often seen as a sign of closeness. As life becomes faster, people may choose simple food, but they should still value fresh ingredients, reduce waste, and respect the eating habits of different families. Food connects appetite, memory, and relationships between people.
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乡 from 家乡 · hometown, native place
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
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Finish
Finish the practice to complete this lesson.