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B1 noun #6,000 most common 8 min read

卡路里

kǎlùlǐ Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 卡路里 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 卡路里 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you just need to know that '卡路里' (kǎlùlǐ) is the Chinese word for 'calorie'. It is a loanword, which means it sounds very similar to the English word. You might see it on a food label or hear it in a gym. You can use it simply by saying a number followed by the word, like '一百卡路里' (yībǎi kǎlùlǐ) for 100 calories. At this stage, focus on recognizing the characters: '卡' (card/calorie), '路' (road), and '里' (inside/mile). Together, they don't mean 'road inside the card,' they just sound like 'calorie'.

At the A2 level, you should be able to use '卡路里' in basic sentences about food and health. You can say things like '这个汉堡有很多卡路里' (This burger has many calories) or '我每天消耗卡路里' (I burn calories every day). You should also learn the short version '卡' (kǎ), which is used very often. For example, '这杯可乐有150卡'. You are beginning to understand that calories are something you 'have' (有) or 'eat' (吃/摄入).

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using '卡路里' in discussions about fitness and dieting. You should know common verbs that go with it, such as '消耗' (xiāohào - to burn/consume), '计算' (jìsuàn - to calculate), and '控制' (kòngzhì - to control). You can explain your diet habits: '为了健康，我开始控制每天的卡路里摄入量' (For health, I've started controlling my daily calorie intake). You should also be able to compare foods based on their calorie content using '比' (bǐ) sentences.

At the B2 level, you can use '卡路里' in more complex scientific or social contexts. You might discuss the obesity crisis or the accuracy of fitness trackers. You should understand related terms like '千焦' (kilojoules) and how to convert them. You can use '卡路里' as a modifier in phrases like '卡路里赤字' (calorie deficit) or '低卡路里饮食' (low-calorie diet). You are also expected to understand the nuance between '卡路里' (the unit) and '热量' (the concept of thermal energy in food).

At the C1 level, you can use '卡路里' in professional or academic discussions regarding nutrition, public health policy, or biochemistry. You can discuss the 'empty calories' (空卡路里/空热量) in processed foods or the metabolic processes involved in 'burning calories'. Your vocabulary should include formal terms like '基础代谢率' (Basal Metabolic Rate) and how it relates to '卡路里消耗'. You can also use the word metaphorically or in high-level social commentary about 'body anxiety' (身材焦虑) in modern society.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of the word '卡路里' and its place in the Chinese language. You can discuss the historical transliteration of scientific terms into Chinese and compare the phonetic approach (like 卡路里) with the semantic approach (like 能量). You can nuances your speech by using idiomatic expressions or cultural references, like the 'Calorie' song, to add flavor to your conversation. You can write persuasive essays on nutritional labeling laws or the psychology of calorie counting with perfect accuracy.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

卡路里 in 30 Seconds

A phonetic loanword from English meaning 'calorie'.
Used as a unit to measure food energy and exercise expenditure.
Often shortened to '卡' (kǎ) in daily conversation.
Commonly paired with verbs like '消耗' (burn) and '摄入' (intake).

The term 卡路里 (kǎlùlǐ) is a fascinating example of a phonetic loanword in Mandarin Chinese. It is the direct transliteration of the English word 'calorie'. In a linguistic sense, it represents the modern era of Chinese vocabulary where scientific and nutritional terms were imported from Western languages to describe concepts that didn't have a precise traditional equivalent. While traditional Chinese medicine often speaks of 'Qi' or 'heat' in a more metaphysical sense, 卡路里 is strictly used in the context of modern nutritional science and physics.

Daily Usage: In modern urban China, you will hear this word constantly in gyms, fitness centers, and among young professionals who are conscious of their diet. It is the standard unit for measuring the energy value of food and the energy expended during physical exercise.
Cultural Shift: The rise of the word 卡路里 mirrors the rise of China's middle class and the 'fitness craze' (健身热). Twenty years ago, people were more concerned with getting enough food; today, the conversation has shifted to managing 卡路里 intake to maintain a healthy weight.

为了减肥，我每天都要计算摄入的卡路里。(To lose weight, I have to calculate the calories I consume every day.)

You will see this word on the back of every packaged food item in China, usually listed under the 'Nutrition Facts' (营养成分表) section. However, a key point for learners to note is that in everyday speech, Chinese people often shorten 卡路里 to just 卡 (kǎ). For instance, instead of saying 'three hundred calories,' they might say '三百大卡' (three hundred kilocalories) or just '三百卡'.

这杯奶茶的卡路里太高了，我不敢喝。(The calories in this milk tea are too high; I don't dare drink it.)

Scientific Context: While '卡路里' is the formal name, scientists and nutritionists often use '千焦' (kJ - kilojoules) on Chinese food labels, as that is the official metric unit. Learners should be able to distinguish between '卡' and '千焦' when reading labels.

In summary, 卡路里 is more than just a scientific term; it is a lifestyle word. It signifies a person's attention to health, self-discipline, and modern scientific living. Whether you are ordering a salad or running on a treadmill, this word is your constant companion in the world of health-conscious China.

Using 卡路里 correctly involves understanding its role as a noun and the specific verbs that commonly pair with it. Since it is a unit of measurement, it usually follows a number, but unlike many other Chinese nouns, it often acts as its own measure word in casual speech, though formally it is the object of the sentence.

Verb Pairing: 消耗 (xiāohào) - To Burn/Consume: This is perhaps the most common verb used with calories in a fitness context. It refers to the energy your body uses up during activity.

跑步一小时可以消耗大约五百卡路里。(Running for one hour can burn about five hundred calories.)

Verb Pairing: 摄入 (shèrù) - To Intake: Used primarily in nutritional contexts, this verb describes the act of eating or drinking energy into your body. It is more formal than '吃' (eat).

医生建议我每天卡路里的摄入量不要超过两千。(The doctor suggested that my daily calorie intake should not exceed two thousand.)

When describing food, we often use the pattern [Food] + 有 + [Number] + 卡路里. This is very straightforward for English speakers as it mirrors the English 'This has X calories'.

这种零食虽然好吃，但是卡路里极高。(Although this snack is delicious, its calories are extremely high.)

Adjective Pairing: 高 (gāo) / 低 (dī): Just like in English, we describe foods as being 'high calorie' (高卡路里) or 'low calorie' (低卡路里). Note that '低卡' is a very popular shorthand for 'low-cal'.

Another important structure is using 卡路里 as a modifier. For example, '卡路里表' (calorie chart) or '卡路里计算器' (calorie calculator). In these cases, it functions just like an adjective or a noun-modifier in English.

我手机上装了一个卡路里计算软件。(I have a calorie calculation app installed on my phone.)

If you are living in a major Chinese city like Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen, you will encounter the word 卡路里 in several specific environments. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the word in the wild.

The Gym (健身房 - jiànshēnfáng): On treadmills (跑步机), elliptical machines (椭圆机), and rowing machines, the digital display will almost always have a section labeled 'Calories' or '卡路里'. Personal trainers will use this word to motivate clients: '再坚持一分钟，就能多消耗50卡路里！' (Hold on for one more minute, and you can burn 50 more calories!)

教练，我今天一共消耗了多少卡路里？(Coach, how many total calories did I burn today?)

Health and Fitness Apps (健身APP): Apps like 'Keep' or '薄荷健康' (Boohee Health) are centered around tracking 卡路里. Users log their meals and the app calculates the total energy. You'll see notifications like '您今天的卡路里摄入已达标' (Your calorie intake for today has reached the goal).

In modern restaurants, especially those focusing on 'Light Food' (轻食 - qīngshí) or Western-style salads, the menus often list the 卡路里 count next to each dish. This is a relatively new trend in China but has become standard in high-end malls and business districts.

看，这个菜单上标注了每道菜的卡路里。(Look, this menu marks the calories for every dish.)

Social Media (社交媒体): On platforms like Little Red Book (小红书) or Douyin (TikTok), influencers post 'calorie-controlled' (控卡) recipes. You'll see hashtags like #低卡美食 (Low-cal gourmet food) or #卡路里大作战 (The Calorie War).

Finally, in supermarket aisles, shoppers (especially those on a diet) will spend time looking at the nutritional labels on the back of packaging to compare 卡路里 content between different brands of yogurt or snacks.

While 卡路里 is a direct loanword, there are several nuances in its usage that can trip up English speakers learning Chinese. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Chinese sound much more natural.

1. Confusing '卡' (kǎ) and '大卡' (dàkǎ): Technically, 1 '大卡' (kilocalorie/kcal) equals 1000 '卡' (small calorie). However, in common speech, people use them interchangeably. The mistake occurs when learners use '卡' in a scientific context where '大卡' was intended. Usually, when people say '100卡', they almost always mean 100 kcal.

Incorrect: 这个苹果只有五十大卡路里。
Correct: 这个苹果只有五十大卡 (or 五十卡路里)。

2. Using the wrong verb for 'burning': In English, we say 'burn calories'. While you *can* say '燃烧卡路里' (ránshāo kǎlùlǐ), it sounds a bit poetic or like a song lyric. In everyday conversation, '消耗' (xiāohào - consume/use up) is much more common and natural.

Another error is forgetting that 卡路里 is a count noun but doesn't need a separate measure word like '个' or '只'. Saying '三个卡路里' sounds very strange; you should just say '三卡路里'.

Mistake: 我今天吃了很多卡路里。
Better: 我今天摄入了很多卡路里。

3. Pronunciation Tones: Many learners mispronounce '卡' as first tone (kā). It must be third tone (kǎ). Also, '路' is fourth tone (lù). If you mess up the tones, people might think you are talking about 'roads' (lù) or other unrelated homophones.

Finally, be careful with the word '热量' (rèliàng). While often translated as 'calories', it actually means 'heat quantity' or 'thermal energy'. You can say '这食物热量很高', but you cannot say '这食物有500热量'. Units require '卡路里'.

In the world of Chinese health and nutrition, 卡路里 is just one of several terms you might encounter. Knowing the subtle differences between these synonyms will help you navigate menus and medical advice more effectively.

热量 (rèliàng) - Heat/Thermal Energy: This is the most common alternative to '卡路里'. While '卡路里' is the unit, '热量' is the concept. You 'calculate calories' but you 'control heat/energy intake'.
Example: 这种油炸食品的热量非常高。(The energy content of this fried food is very high.)

Comparison: 卡路里 is like 'meters', while 热量 is like 'distance'.

能量 (néngliàng) - Energy: This is a broader term. In physics, it's energy. In nutrition, it's the official term used on food labels (能量表). It includes calories but is more formal/academic.
Example: 这款运动饮料能快速补充能量。(This sports drink can quickly replenish energy.)

Then there are the specific unit variations:

大卡 (dàkǎ): Kilocalorie. The standard unit for food energy in daily life.
千焦 (qiānjiāo): Kilojoule. The official metric unit used on Chinese food labels. (1 kcal ≈ 4.18 kJ).
焦耳 (jiāo'ěr): Joule. Used in physics classes, rarely in the kitchen.

Comparison Table

Term	Usage	Tone
卡路里	Unit of energy	Common/Informal
热量	Concept of energy	Very Common
能量	Scientific energy	Formal/Labeling

In summary, use 卡路里 when you are counting or being specific about units, and use 热量 when you are talking about the general richness or energy content of a meal.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The characters selected for the transliteration—卡 (kǎ), 路 (lù), 里 (lǐ)—were chosen purely for their sound, but '里' is also a traditional Chinese unit of distance (the 'li' or Chinese mile).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈkæləri/

US /ˈkæləri/

In Chinese, each syllable has its own tone: kǎ (3rd), lù (4th), lǐ (3rd).

Rhymes With

公里 (gōnglǐ) 心里 (xīnlǐ) 这里 (zhèlǐ) 哪里 (nǎlǐ) 经理 (jīnglǐ) 道理 (dàolǐ) 行李 (xínglǐ) 法里 (fǎlǐ)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'kǎ' as 1st tone 'kā'.
Pronouncing 'lù' as 2nd tone 'lú'.
Mixing up 'lǐ' with 'lì'.
Failing to perform the tone sandhi (the first 3rd tone 'kǎ' becomes slightly higher when followed by another syllable, though technically not a 3-3 pair here).
Confusing the spelling with 'kaluli' (missing the tones).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are relatively common, and as a loanword, the meaning is easy to guess from context.

Writing 3/5

Writing '路' and '里' is standard, but '卡' must be remembered as the specific character for this sound.

Speaking 2/5

Tones are the only challenge; otherwise, it sounds like the English word.

Listening 1/5

Very easy to recognize because of its phonetic similarity to English.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

有 (have) 吃 (eat) 高 (high) 低 (low) 数字 (numbers 1-1000)

Learn Next

蛋白质 (protein) 脂肪 (fat) 碳水化合物 (carbohydrates) 维生素 (vitamins) 代谢 (metabolism)

Advanced

基础代谢率 (BMR) 营养均衡 (nutritional balance) 体脂率 (body fat percentage) 热效应 (thermic effect) 宏量营养素 (macronutrients)

Grammar to Know

Numbers + 卡路里

五百卡路里 (500 calories). No measure word needed.

Adjective + 卡路里

高卡路里 (high calorie), 低卡路里 (low calorie).

Verb + 卡路里

消耗卡路里 (burn calories), 摄入卡路里 (intake calories).

N1 + 的 + 卡路里

苹果的卡路里 (the calories of an apple).

卡路里 + Noun (Modifier)

卡路里含量 (calorie content).

Examples by Level

这一杯茶有零卡路里。

This cup of tea has zero calories.

Subject + 有 + Number + 卡路里.

苹果的卡路里很少。

Apples have very few calories.

Possessive structure using '的'.

那是什么？那是卡路里表。

What is that? That is a calorie chart.

Simple identification sentence.

我喜欢低卡路里的食物。

I like low-calorie food.

Using '低' (low) as a prefix.

这个蛋糕有一千卡路里吗？

Does this cake have one thousand calories?

Question form with '吗'.

我不看卡路里。

I don't look at calories.

Negative sentence with '不'.

水没有卡路里。

Water does not have calories.

Negative possession with '没有'.

这里的卡路里很高。

The calories here (in this food) are very high.

Using '高' (high) to describe the amount.

跑步可以帮你消耗卡路里。

Running can help you burn calories.

Using '可以' (can) and '消耗' (consume).

我想买低卡路里的饮料。

I want to buy low-calorie drinks.

Using '想' (want) + verb.

你每天摄入多少卡路里？

How many calories do you take in every day?

Question using '多少' (how many).

这块饼干有两百卡。

This cookie has two hundred calories (short form).

Using the short form '卡'.

我不喜欢卡路里太高的零食。

I don't like snacks with too many calories.

Using '太...了' structure.

医生说我要注意卡路里。

The doctor said I need to pay attention to calories.

Indirect speech.

晚饭的卡路里不能太多。

Dinner's calories cannot be too many.

Using '不能' (cannot/should not).

他在计算汉堡的卡路里。

He is calculating the calories of the burger.

Present continuous with '在'.

为了保持身材，我每天控制卡路里的摄入。

To stay in shape, I control my calorie intake every day.

Using '为了' (in order to).

如果你想减肥，就得消耗比摄入更多的卡路里。

If you want to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in.

Comparison structure '比'.

包装袋上的卡路里是以千焦为单位的。

The calories on the packaging are in units of kilojoules.

Using '以...为单位' (using ... as the unit).

虽然味道很好，但卡路里含量惊人。

Although it tastes great, the calorie content is shocking.

Conjunction '虽然...但...'.

你应该选择那些低卡路里、高蛋白的食物。

You should choose those low-calorie, high-protein foods.

Using comma-separated adjectives.

通过运动，我们可以有效地消耗多余的卡路里。

Through exercise, we can effectively burn excess calories.

Using '通过' (through/by means of).

这个APP可以帮我记录每顿饭的卡路里。

This app can help me record the calories of every meal.

Resultative verb '帮...记录'.

很多人其实并不清楚卡路里的真正含义。

Many people actually don't clearly understand the true meaning of calories.

Using '并不' for emphasis on negation.

这种饮食计划强调卡路里密度的重要性。

This diet plan emphasizes the importance of calorie density.

Formal verb '强调' (emphasize).

长期摄入过量的卡路里会导致肥胖和其他健康问题。

Long-term excessive calorie intake leads to obesity and other health issues.

Using '导致' (lead to/result in).

即便你在休息，身体也在消耗基础代谢所需的卡路里。

Even when you are resting, your body is burning calories needed for basal metabolism.

Conjunction '即便...也...' (even if...).

我们需要科学地平衡卡路里的摄入与消耗。

We need to scientifically balance calorie intake and expenditure.

Adverbial '科学地' (scientifically).

酒精虽然不含脂肪，但其卡路里却非常高。

Although alcohol contains no fat, its calories are very high.

Using '其' as a formal possessive pronoun.

餐厅被迫在菜单上标明卡路里数值。

Restaurants were forced to mark calorie values on their menus.

Passive structure with '被迫'.

有些人对卡路里过于痴迷，这可能会演变成心理问题。

Some people are too obsessed with calories, which might evolve into psychological issues.

Structure '对...过于痴迷'.

这种新型代糖几乎不含有任何卡路里。

This new type of sugar substitute contains almost no calories at all.

Using '几乎不' (almost not).

从生物化学的角度来看，卡路里是能量转换的量度。

From a biochemical perspective, a calorie is a measure of energy conversion.

Using '从...的角度来看'.

现代加工食品往往含有大量的“空卡路里”，缺乏营养价值。

Modern processed foods often contain large amounts of 'empty calories' and lack nutritional value.

Noun phrase '空卡路里' (empty calories).

政府试图通过征收“糖税”来降低国民的卡路里总摄入量。

The government is trying to reduce the national total calorie intake by imposing a 'sugar tax'.

Complex sentence with multiple clauses.

卡路里的精确测量在实验室环境下才能实现。

The precise measurement of calories can only be achieved in a laboratory environment.

Using '才能' to indicate a necessary condition.

这种运动追踪器宣称能实时监测卡路里的燃烧情况。

This fitness tracker claims to be able to monitor calorie burning in real-time.

Formal verb '监测' (monitor).

过度关注卡路里往往会忽视饮食中微量元素的摄取。

Excessive focus on calories often leads to neglecting the intake of micronutrients in the diet.

Gerund-like subject '过度关注...'.

该研究探讨了卡路里限制饮食对延长寿命的潜在影响。

The study explored the potential impact of calorie-restricted diets on extending lifespan.

Scientific vocabulary '探讨' and '限制饮食'.

卡路里这一概念的普及，从侧面反映了人类对身体掌控欲的增强。

The popularization of the concept of calories reflects, from another angle, the increasing human desire for bodily control.

Sophisticated phrase '从侧面反映'.

卡路里作为一种量化生命的手段，在后现代语境下具有多重象征意义。

As a means of quantifying life, calories hold multiple symbolic meanings in a postmodern context.

High-level philosophical vocabulary.

尽管卡路里学说在营养学界占据主导，但其局限性也日益凸显。

Although the calorie theory dominates nutritional science, its limitations are increasingly becoming apparent.

Using '尽管...但...' with formal terminology.

我们不应仅仅将食物简化为冰冷的卡路里数值，而应关注其背后的文化底蕴。

We should not merely simplify food to cold calorie values, but should focus on the cultural heritage behind it.

Structure '不应仅仅...而应...'.

卡路里标签的强制化，是公共卫生干预主义的一次重大尝试。

The mandatory nature of calorie labeling is a significant attempt at public health interventionism.

Abstract noun '强制化' (mandatorization).

在资源匮乏的年代，卡路里曾是生存的保障，而今却成了健康的负担。

In times of resource scarcity, calories were a guarantee of survival, but today they have become a burden on health.

Antithesis structure '曾是...而今却...'.

由于个体代谢差异，单纯依靠卡路里计数来管理体重往往差强人意。

Due to individual metabolic differences, relying solely on calorie counting for weight management is often unsatisfactory.

Using the idiom '差强人意' (just barely satisfactory/not meeting expectations).

卡路里燃烧的快感，在某种程度上已成为都市人缓解焦虑的成瘾性行为。

The pleasure of burning calories has, to some extent, become an addictive behavior for urbanites to relieve anxiety.

Psychological analysis using '某种程度上'.

该论著深入剖析了卡路里概念如何重塑了人类对“能量”与“欲望”的认知。

The treatise deeply analyzes how the concept of calories has reshaped human cognition of 'energy' and 'desire'.

Formal verb '剖析' (analyze deeply).

Common Collocations

消耗卡路里

摄入卡路里

计算卡路里

低卡路里

高卡路里

卡路里含量

控制卡路里

卡路里表

空卡路里

卡路里赤字

Common Phrases

燃烧我的卡路里

— Burn my calories. Famous from a pop song, used as a workout slogan.

每天起床第一句，燃烧我的卡路里！

卡路里爆表

— Calories are off the charts. Used for very rich food.

这块巧克力蛋糕真是卡路里爆表。

控卡饮食

— Calorie-controlled diet.

我最近在尝试控卡饮食。

零卡

— Zero calories. Common on drink labels.

我只喝零卡可乐。

满口卡路里

— A mouthful of calories. Used when eating something very indulgent.

这一口下去，真是满口卡路里。

卡路里炸弹

— Calorie bomb. A food item with massive amounts of energy.

那个双层芝士汉堡简直是卡路里炸弹。

低卡餐

— Low-cal meal. Popular for lunch among office workers.

便利店有很多好吃的低卡餐。

卡路里平衡

— Calorie balance.

保持卡路里平衡对健康很重要。

基础卡路里

— Base calories (usually referring to BMR).

我的基础卡路里消耗是1500大卡。

看卡路里

— To check calories.

买东西前我习惯先看卡路里。

Often Confused With

卡路里 vs 热量 (rèliàng)

Rèliàng is the general concept of heat/energy, while Kǎlùlǐ is the specific unit. You can't say '500 rèliàng'.

卡路里 vs 能量 (néngliàng)

Néngliàng is broader and covers all types of energy, including electricity. Kǎlùlǐ is specifically for heat/food.

卡路里 vs 脂肪 (zhīfáng)

Zhīfáng is 'fat'. While related to calories, they are not the same thing. 1g of fat contains 9 calories.

Idioms & Expressions

"暴饮暴食"

— To eat and drink excessively. Often used when discussing calorie overload.

暴饮暴食会导致卡路里严重超标。

Common

"量入为出"

— To spend according to one's income. Metaphorically used for calorie management.

饮食也要量入为出，摄入不能超过消耗。

Literary/Metaphorical

"持之以恒"

— Persevere. Used in the context of long-term calorie control.

控制卡路里需要持之以恒的毅力。

Formal

"因小失大"

— To lose the big for the small. Used when eating a small 'calorie bomb' ruins a diet.

别为了那一口甜点因小失大，毁了今天的减肥计划。

Common

"适可而止"

— Stop at the right moment. Advice for eating high-calorie foods.

炸鸡虽然好吃，但要适可而止。

Formal

"积少成多"

— Small amounts add up. Used for hidden calories.

每天多吃一点零食，卡路里积少成多也会变胖。

Common

"事半功倍"

— Twice the result with half the effort. Used for efficient calorie burning exercises.

高强度间歇训练能让消耗卡路里事半功倍。

Formal

"徒劳无功"

— Work in vain. Used when exercise doesn't offset bad eating.

如果不控制饮食，光靠运动消耗卡路里可能是徒劳无功。

Formal

"知己知彼"

— Know yourself and the enemy. Used for knowing the calorie content of food.

减肥要知己知彼，先搞清楚食物的卡路里。

Common

"自律自强"

— Self-discipline and self-improvement. The spirit of calorie counting.

严格控制卡路里是他自律自强的表现。

Formal

Easily Confused

卡路里 vs 焦耳

Both are units of energy.

Joule is the SI unit, Calorie is the traditional nutritional unit. 1 calorie is about 4.2 joules.

科学实验通常用焦耳，而饮食建议用卡路里。

卡路里 vs 千焦

Used on food labels in China.

It's just a larger metric unit. Most people still think in calories, so they have to convert.

标签上写着800千焦，大约是200卡路里。

卡路里 vs 热气

Sounds like 'heat'.

Rèqì refers to internal heat in Traditional Chinese Medicine (causing sore throats, etc.), not calories.

吃荔枝容易上火（热气），但这和卡路里没关系。

卡路里 vs 重量

People confuse energy with weight.

Weight is grams/kg; calories is energy. A small food can have high calories.

虽然这个巧克力重量很轻，但卡路里很高。

卡路里 vs 卡片

Shares the character '卡'.

Kǎpiàn means a physical card. Kǎlùlǐ is the unit.

我用信用卡买了一本关于卡路里的书。

Sentence Patterns

[Food] 有 [Number] 卡路里。

这个苹果有六十卡路里。

[Activity] 可以消耗 [Number] 卡路里。

游泳可以消耗很多卡路里。

为了[目标]，我要控制卡路里。

为了减肥，我要控制卡路里。

[Food] 虽然好吃，但卡路里很高。

炸鸡虽然好吃，但卡路里很高。

通过[方式]来降低卡路里摄入。

通过少喝可乐来降低卡路里摄入。

卡路里不仅是[A]，更是[B]。

卡路里不仅是能量单位，更是自律的象征。

比起[A]，[B]的卡路里更低。

比起米饭，蔬菜的卡路里更低。

建议将卡路里控制在[数字]以内。

建议将卡路里控制在两千以内。

Word Family

Nouns

卡路里 (Calorie)

卡 (Cal - short form)

大卡 (Kilocalorie)

Adjectives

低卡 (Low-cal)

高卡 (High-cal)

零卡 (Zero-cal)

热量 (Heat/Energy)

能量 (Energy)

千焦 (Kilojoule)

代谢 (Metabolism)

营养 (Nutrition)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in urban health/fitness contexts.

Common Mistakes

我吃了五百卡路里。 → 我摄入了五百卡路里。
While '吃' is okay, '摄入' (intake) is the more appropriate scientific verb for calories.
这个苹果有六十个卡路里。 → 这个苹果有六十卡路里。
Units like '卡路里' don't need the measure word '个'.
燃烧卡路里 → 消耗卡路里
'燃烧' is literal 'burning' (like fire). '消耗' (consume) is more natural for metabolism.
Pronouncing '卡' as 'kā'. → Pronounce as 'kǎ'.
'卡' is a third-tone syllable in this context. 'kā' might sound like 'coffee' (kāfēi).
今天我有很多卡路里。 → 我今天摄入了很多卡路里。
You don't 'have' calories as a possession; you intake or consume them.

Tips

Car-Road-Li

Remember the three characters as a Car on a Road for a Li (Chinese mile). It's the journey to burning energy!

Listen to the Song

Search for 'Calorie' by Rocket Girls 101. The chorus repeats the word many times, making it impossible to forget.

No Measure Word

Don't add '个' between the number and '卡路里'. Just say '一百卡路里'.

App Usage

If you use a fitness app in Chinese, look for the '火' (fire) icon; it usually represents calories burned.

Use '低卡'

In restaurants, asking for '低卡' (dī kǎ) options makes you sound very much like a local health-conscious person.

Label Reading

Look for '能量' (Energy) on the back of snacks. The number next to it (in kJ) is your calorie guide.

Shorten it

When talking to friends, just say '卡'. '这顿饭起码有一千卡！' sounds more natural than the full word.

Gym Lingo

Combine with '消耗' (burn). '我今天消耗了八百卡' is a standard way to brag about your workout.

The kJ Divide

Remember the 4-to-1 rule. If a Chinese label says 400kJ, it's roughly 100 calories.

Dining Out

Use '热量很高' to describe rich food like hotpot or fried chicken; it's a very common dinner conversation topic.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a **Car** (卡 - kǎ) driving down a **Road** (路 - lù) for a **Mile** (里 - lǐ) to burn off one calorie.

Visual Association

Picture a 'Nutrition Facts' label with a giant 'K' for 'kǎ' on it.

Word Web

健身 (Fitness) 饮食 (Diet) 减肥 (Lose weight) 标签 (Label) 运动 (Exercise) 健康 (Health) 糖 (Sugar) 脂肪 (Fat)

Challenge

Try to find three items in your kitchen and say their calorie count in Chinese: '这个[食物]有[数字]卡路里'。

Word Origin

Borrowed from the English word 'calorie', which itself comes from the Latin 'calor' meaning 'heat'. It entered Chinese in the early 20th century.

Original meaning: A unit of heat energy.

Indo-European (via English) -> Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin transliteration).

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing calories with friends, as 'body shaming' and 'diet culture' are sensitive topics in China, just like in the West.

English speakers are very used to seeing calories on everything. In China, this is common in cities but less so in rural traditional markets.

Song: '卡路里' by Rocket Girls 101 (2018). Movie: 'Hello Mr. Billionaire' (西虹市首富), where the song originated. App: 'Keep' - China's most popular fitness app centered on calorie tracking.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Gym

消耗了多少卡路里？
设定卡路里目标
高强度消耗
跑步机上的卡路里

Ordering Food

有没有低卡的？
这个卡路里多吗？
不需要高热量的
看菜单上的卡路里

Doctor's Office

控制卡路里摄入
每日建议卡路里
卡路里与健康
减少空卡路里

Supermarket

查看营养成分表
对比卡路里
零卡路里食品
低卡零食

Social Media

晒卡路里
控卡日记
打卡消耗
卡路里大挑战

Conversation Starters

"你平时会计算每顿饭的卡路里吗？ (Do you usually calculate the calories of every meal?)"

"你觉得哪种运动消耗卡路里最快？ (Which exercise do you think burns calories the fastest?)"

"这家餐厅的菜单上竟然标了卡路里，你觉得怎么样？ (This restaurant actually marked calories on the menu, what do you think?)"

"为了减肥，你愿意放弃高卡路里的奶茶吗？ (To lose weight, are you willing to give up high-calorie milk tea?)"

"你手机里有记录卡路里的APP吗？ (Do you have a calorie-tracking app on your phone?)"

Journal Prompts

写一写你今天摄入和消耗的卡路里情况。 (Write about your calorie intake and expenditure today.)

讨论一下为什么现代人如此关注卡路里。 (Discuss why modern people are so focused on calories.)

如果你可以发明一种零卡路里的美食，你会发明什么？ (If you could invent a zero-calorie gourmet food, what would it be?)

描述一次你因为卡路里太高而拒绝美食的经历。 (Describe an experience where you refused delicious food because the calories were too high.)

你认为卡路里标签应该在所有餐厅强制执行吗？为什么？ (Do you think calorie labels should be mandatory in all restaurants? Why?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in daily conversation, '卡' is simply the short form of '卡路里'. Native speakers often say '100卡' instead of the full '100卡路里' because it's faster and more natural.

'大卡' (dàkǎ) means kilocalorie (kcal). In nutrition, when we say 'calories', we actually mean 'kilocalories'. So '100卡路里' and '100大卡' refer to the same amount of energy in a food context.

The most natural way is '消耗卡路里' (xiāohào kǎlùlǐ). While you can say '燃烧' (ránshāo), it's more common in songs or very dramatic fitness advertisements.

Actually, official Chinese food labels use '千焦' (kJ). However, most people convert it to '卡路里' in their heads. To convert kJ to kcal, divide by roughly 4.18.

Strictly speaking, it's a unit of heat energy, so it could be used in physics. But in 99% of Chinese conversations, it's about food, exercise, and weight loss.

You can say: '这个有多少卡路里？' (Zhège yǒu duōshǎo kǎlùlǐ?) or '这个的热量是多少？' (Zhège de rèliàng shì duōshǎo?)

'零卡' (líng kǎ) means 'zero calories'. You will see this on diet soda cans (零卡可乐) and other sugar-free products.

Yes, it acts as its own unit. You say '500卡路里', not '500个卡路里'.

It was a massive hit in 2018 and is still played in many gyms across China. It's a great way to remember the word!

'卡路里' is the unit (like 'inches'), and '热量' is the property (like 'length'). You talk about a food's '热量' being high, and you measure that '热量' in '卡路里'.