A2 verb Neutral #6,800 most common 1 min read

开胃

kaiwei /kʰaɪ̯²¹⁵ veɪ̯²⁻³⁵/
Practice it

Kāi wèi means to whet the appetite, making food and drinks more appealing.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Stimulates appetite, makes you want to eat.
  • Used for food, drinks, smells, and atmosphere.
  • Common in food reviews and dish names.

Overview

开胃 (kāi wèi) 是一个常用的中文词语，字面意思是“打开胃口”。它主要用来描述能够激发或增进食欲的食物、饮品、菜肴，甚至是某种场景或气味。这个词语在日常生活中非常普遍，尤其是在谈论美食和用餐体验时。

开胃通常用作动词，后面可以接名词（如：开胃菜、开胃酒）或形容词（如：味道很开胃）。也可以单独使用，表示“能开胃”。例如，“这道菜很开胃”或“闻到这个香味，真开胃”。

Examples

1

这道凉拌海蜇吃起来脆爽可口，非常开胃。

everyday

This jellyfish salad is crisp and delicious, very appetizing.

2

餐前饮用一杯清爽的柠檬水有助于开胃。

formal

Drinking a glass of refreshing lemon water before the meal helps to whet the appetite.

3

闻到烧烤的香味，我的胃口一下子就开胃了！

informal

Smelling the aroma of the barbecue instantly made me feel hungry!

4

研究表明，某些酸性物质能够刺激唾液分泌，起到开胃的效果。

academic

Research indicates that certain acidic substances can stimulate saliva secretion, having an appetite-stimulating effect.

Common Collocations

开胃菜 appetizer
开胃酒 aperitif
很开胃 very appetizing
一道开胃的菜 an appetizing dish

Common Phrases

开胃小菜

appetizer / light starter

酸辣开胃

sour and spicy, appetizing

大开胃口

to have a great appetite

Often Confused With

开胃 vs 食欲不振

'食欲不振' (shí yù bù zhèn) means 'poor appetite' or 'loss of appetite', which is the opposite of having one's appetite whetted by something '开胃'.

Grammar Patterns

形容词 + 开胃 (e.g., 味道开胃) 动词 + 开胃 (e.g., 刺激开胃) 名词 + 开胃 (e.g., 开胃菜, 开胃酒) （某物）很开胃

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The term '开胃' is widely used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing food and dining experiences. It is generally considered a neutral term, suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts. It's very common in restaurant reviews and menus.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse '开胃' (verb/adjective meaning appetizing) with '食欲' (noun meaning appetite). For example, saying '我开胃' instead of '我很有食欲' (I have a good appetite) or '这食物很开胃' (This food is appetizing).

Tips

💡

Think of 'opening' your stomach

The literal meaning 'open stomach' helps remember that it's about making you feel hungry and ready to eat.

💡

Associate with sour or spicy tastes

Many 'kāi wèi' foods have a sour or spicy kick that stimulates saliva and appetite.

🌍

Importance in Chinese Cuisine

Chinese meals often start with 'kāi wèi cài' (appetizers) to stimulate the palate before the main dishes.

Word Origin

The word '开胃' is a direct combination of '开' (kāi), meaning 'to open', and '胃' (wèi), meaning 'stomach'. Thus, it literally translates to 'open stomach', signifying the act of opening up one's appetite.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, meals are often social events, and starting with something that stimulates the appetite is appreciated. Appetizers ('开胃菜') play a crucial role in Chinese banquets and home dining, setting the stage for the main courses.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef 'opening' a bottle of delicious sauce to 'open' your stomach (appetite) for the meal ahead. The sound 'kāi' can remind you of 'opening'.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“开胃”是一个动词，表示能引起食欲。而“食欲”是一个名词，指想吃东西的欲望。你可以说“这道菜很开胃”，也可以说“我今天食欲很好”。

通常味道酸、辣、咸或者香气浓郁的食物比较开胃。例如凉菜、沙拉、腌制品、醋溜菜等，以及一些有特殊香气的烤肉或海鲜。

“开胃”可以用在日常谈话、餐厅评价、菜肴介绍、美食节目等多种场合。尤其是在描述食物的吸引力时非常常用。

除了食物本身，一些饮品（如酸梅汤、葡萄酒）、诱人的香气（如烘焙的香味）、甚至是轻松愉快的用餐氛围，也可能起到“开胃”的作用。

Test Yourself

fill blank

这道酸辣黄瓜做得很______，特别适合夏天。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 开胃

“开胃”表示能引起食欲，酸辣黄瓜的味道特点就是开胃。

multiple choice

以下哪个选项最能解释“开胃”的意思？

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 能够引起食欲，让人想吃东西

“开胃”的本意就是打开胃口，引起食欲。

sentence building

请用“开胃”、“菜”、“这”、“很”组成一个句子。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 这菜很开胃。

“这道菜很开胃”是一个主谓宾结构清晰的完整句子，表达了菜肴能引起食欲。

Score: /3

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