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A2 noun #4,000 most common 13 min read

食材

shícái Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 食材 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 食材 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 食材 (shícái) as a fancy word for 'food items' you need for cooking. While you might first learn '菜' (cài) to mean vegetables or dishes, shícái is the word you see in picture books or simple recipes. Imagine you want to make a salad. You need tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers. These are your shícái. At this stage, just remember that shí means 'eat' and cái means 'material.' So, 'eating material.' You will mostly hear this word when people talk about going to the market. For example, 'I buy ingredients' (我买食材). It is a good word to know if you want to talk about basic cooking. You don't need to worry about complex grammar; just use it like a regular noun. If you see it on a sign at a grocery store, it tells you that you are in the section with fresh food like meat and vegetables. It's a very helpful 'anchor' word for navigating food-related situations in China.

At the A2 level, you should start using 食材 (shícái) to describe the process of preparing a meal. You are moving beyond just 'eating' and starting to 'cook.' You can use this word with simple adjectives like 'fresh' (新鲜 - xīnxiān) or 'good' (好 - hǎo). For instance, 'Fresh ingredients are very important' (新鲜的食材很重要). You might also see this word on menus in restaurants that are a bit nicer than fast-food places. It shows that the restaurant cares about where their food comes from. You can also start to distinguish shícái from '调料' (tiáoliào - seasonings). In a simple recipe, the shícái are the big things like chicken or potatoes, and the tiáoliào are the small things like salt or sugar. Using shícái makes your Chinese sound a bit more mature and precise than just saying '东西' (dōngxi - things). It shows you have a specific culinary vocabulary.

By B1, you can use 食材 (shícái) in more complex sentences and understand its nuances in health and nutrition. You might discuss '食材搭配' (shícái dāpèi - ingredient pairing), which is a common topic in Chinese culture regarding how different foods affect your body. For example, you could say '合理的食材搭配对身体有好处' (Reasonable pairing of ingredients is good for the body). You'll also encounter this word in cooking videos or blogs. You should be able to understand phrases like '挑选食材' (tiāoxuǎn shícái - selecting ingredients) and '准备食材' (zhǔnbèi shícái - preparing ingredients). At this level, you are expected to know that shícái refers to the raw state of the food. You can also start using it to discuss food quality and food safety, which are significant social topics in China. If you're talking about a hobby like baking or traditional Chinese cooking, shícái will be a key word in your vocabulary.

At the B2 level, 食材 (shícái) becomes a tool for discussing culinary philosophy and market trends. You might talk about '有机食材' (yǒujī shícái - organic ingredients) or '当地食材' (dāngdì shícái - local ingredients) in the context of sustainability or environmentalism. You can use the word to compare different regional cuisines—for example, explaining how Cantonese cuisine emphasizes the 'original flavor of the ingredients' (食材的原汁原味). You should also be comfortable using it in more formal or professional settings, such as discussing the 'ingredient supply chain' (食材供应链) or 'cost control of ingredients' (食材成本控制). At this level, your use of shícái should reflect an understanding that the quality of the raw material is often seen as more important than the cooking technique itself in many Chinese culinary traditions. You can also use it metaphorically in some contexts, though it remains primarily a culinary term.

At the C1 level, your understanding of 食材 (shícái) should include its cultural and historical weight. You can discuss the concept of '药食同源' (yàoshí tóngyuán), where certain shícái are chosen for their specific TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) properties. You might analyze food documentaries or literature where shícái is used to describe a person's connection to their hometown or the changing seasons. You should be able to use the term in academic or highly technical discussions about food science, agriculture, or gourmet criticism. For instance, you might critique a chef's 'innovative use of traditional ingredients' (对传统食材的创新运用). You'll also notice how the word is used in marketing to create a sense of 'luxury' or 'purity.' Your vocabulary should now include related professional terms like '原料采购' (sourcing of raw materials) and '食材加工工艺' (ingredient processing techniques), allowing you to move seamlessly between domestic, professional, and academic contexts.

At the C2 level, 食材 (shícái) is a word you use with total native-like precision and stylistic flair. You can appreciate its use in high-level culinary prose, where the 'soul' of the shícái is discussed. You might engage in deep debates about the ethics of certain shícái (like shark fin or bird's nest) or the impact of globalization on local shícái diversity. You understand the subtle difference between shícái and its synonyms in every possible context, from a street food stall to a Michelin-starred kitchen. You can use the word in complex rhetorical structures, perhaps in a speech about cultural heritage or a sophisticated food review. You might also explore the etymological roots of the characters and how the concept of 'material' (材) has evolved in the Chinese culinary lexicon over centuries. At this stage, the word is not just a label for food; it's a window into the Chinese worldview regarding nature, health, and the art of living.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

食材 in 30 Seconds

食材 (shícái) means 'ingredients' or 'food materials.' It focuses on the raw, unprocessed components of a dish like meat, vegetables, and grains.
It is composed of 食 (food/eat) and 材 (material). It is used primarily in cooking, grocery shopping, and discussions about food quality.
Unlike the English 'ingredients,' it usually excludes seasonings like salt or oil, which are called 调料 (tiáoliào) in Chinese.
The word is associated with freshness, health, and culinary philosophy, often appearing in menus, cooking shows, and food documentaries.

The term 食材 (shícái) is a fundamental noun in the Chinese language, specifically within the domains of culinary arts, domestic life, and nutrition. To understand its essence, we must look at its constituent characters: 食 (shí), which refers to food, eating, or meals, and 材 (cái), which denotes material, timber, or the raw stuff from which something is made. Together, they literally mean 'food material.' While in English we often simply say 'ingredients,' shícái carries a slightly more substantial connotation, often referring to the primary, raw, or whole components of a dish before they have been processed or seasoned. It is the 'canvas' upon which a chef works.

Primary Usage: Used when discussing the quality, sourcing, or preparation of raw food items. It is the standard term in cookbooks, cooking shows, and grocery shopping contexts.
Quality Focus: In modern Chinese culture, there is a massive emphasis on 'fresh ingredients' (新鲜食材). When a restaurant claims to use high-quality shícái, it is a mark of prestige and health consciousness.

为了做出好菜，他专门去市场挑选最鲜美的食材。 (In order to make a good dish, he specifically went to the market to select the freshest ingredients.)

In a broader sense, shícái encompasses everything from vegetables and meats to grains and seafood. It is distinct from 调料 (tiáoliào), which refers to seasonings like salt, sugar, or soy sauce. If you are watching a Chinese cooking competition like 'MasterChef,' the judges will frequently comment on how the contestant handled the shícái. They might say the shícái is 'original' (原汁原味), meaning the natural flavor of the ingredient was preserved and highlighted rather than masked by heavy sauces.

The concept of shícái is also deeply tied to the Chinese philosophy of 'Medicine and Food from the same source' (药食同源). This means that the ingredients chosen for a meal are not just for satiety or flavor, but are selected for their perceived medicinal properties. For example, ginger might be seen as a 'warming' ingredient, while certain greens are 'cooling.' In this context, the shícái are the building blocks of health. People will often discuss which shícái are appropriate for the current season, such as eating white radish in the winter to aid digestion and lung health.

这些食材都是有机的，非常健康。 (These ingredients are all organic and very healthy.)

Market Context: At a 'wet market' (菜市场), you are surrounded by shícái in their purest form—live fish, stalks of greens with soil still on them, and freshly butchered meat. The act of selecting these is called 选材 (xuǎncái).

Furthermore, the term is used in industrial contexts. A food processing factory might discuss its 'ingredient supply chain' (食材供应链). In the age of e-commerce, apps like Meituan or Dingdong Maicai focus entirely on the delivery of shícái to urban households. The word has moved from the professional kitchen into everyday digital life. Whether you are a home cook or a professional chef, your relationship with your shícái defines your culinary output.

巧妇难为无米之炊，没有好的食材，厨师也无能为力。 (Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice; without good ingredients, a chef is also powerless.)

To wrap up, shícái is more than just a list of items on a recipe. It represents the quality, the origin, and the potential of the food. It is a word that bridges the gap between the farm and the table. When you use this word, you are focusing on the raw materials themselves, acknowledging their importance in the final creation of a meal.

Using 食材 (shícái) correctly involves understanding its role as a collective noun for the physical components of a dish. It usually functions as the object of verbs like 'buy' (买), 'prepare' (准备), 'select' (挑选), or 'process' (加工). It can also be the subject of sentences describing quality or origin.

Sentence Structure: Action + 食材: The most common way to use it is by placing a verb before it. For example: '我们要去超市买一些做火锅的食材' (We need to go to the supermarket to buy some ingredients for hotpot).

这家餐厅非常注重食材的新鲜度。 (This restaurant pays great attention to the freshness of the ingredients.)

When describing the shícái, you often use adjectives related to quality. Common pairings include 新鲜 (xīnxiān - fresh), 优质 (yōuzhì - high quality), 廉价 (liánjià - cheap), or 昂贵 (ángguì - expensive). You can also specify the type of ingredient by placing another noun in front: 蔬菜食材 (vegetable ingredients), 肉类食材 (meat ingredients), 海鲜食材 (seafood ingredients).

In professional contexts, you might see shícái used in compound phrases like '食材清单' (ingredient list) or '食材搭配' (ingredient pairing). The latter is a very popular topic in Chinese nutrition, discussing which foods should or should not be eaten together (食物相克). For instance, some believe certain shícái should not be paired because they cancel out each other's nutrients.

厨师正在厨房里处理刚运到的食材。 (The chef is in the kitchen processing the ingredients that just arrived.)

Describing Origin: You can say '当地食材' (local ingredients) or '进口食材' (imported ingredients). This is very common in marketing and food reviews.

Another nuance is the difference between shícái and yuánliào (原料). While both can mean 'raw materials,' shícái is strictly for food. You wouldn't call the wood used to make a chair '食材,' but you could call it '原料.' Conversely, while you could call flour a '原料' for bread, in a culinary context, calling it a shícái sounds more natural and appetizing. It emphasizes the 'food' aspect.

这种汤需要十几种不同的食材。 (This soup requires more than ten different kinds of ingredients.)

Finally, consider the verb '搭配' (dāpèi - to pair/match). '合理的食材搭配能让营养更均衡' (A reasonable pairing of ingredients can make nutrition more balanced). This use of shícái as a subject in a complex sentence is common in health blogs and lifestyle magazines. It elevates the conversation from just 'eating' to 'the art and science of food materials.'

The word 食材 (shícái) is ubiquitous in modern Chinese life, but its frequency has surged with the rise of food-focused media. If you turn on a Chinese television station or browse Bilibili (China's YouTube equivalent), you will find countless 'foodies' (吃货) and professional chefs discussing shícái. It is the vocabulary of the modern epicurean.

Cooking Shows and Documentaries: In the famous documentary 'A Bite of China' (舌尖上的中国), the narrator often speaks poetically about how nature provides various shícái to different regions. Here, the word is used to evoke a sense of gratitude and connection to the land.

大自然赐予了我们丰富的食材。 (Nature has bestowed upon us an abundance of ingredients.)

In the supermarket, you will see signs for 'Fresh Ingredients Zone' (生鲜食材区). This is where you find the raw meats and vegetables. On the packaging of premium food products, labels often boast 'Selection of Global Ingredients' (全球甄选食材). This usage is designed to give the consumer confidence in the quality and safety of the product, appealing to the growing middle class's desire for high-standard food.

If you are at a restaurant and the waiter is explaining a dish, they might say, '这道菜选用了长白山的松茸作为食材' (This dish uses matsutake mushrooms from the Changbai Mountains as an ingredient). By using the word shícái, the waiter is highlighting the specific component that makes the dish special or expensive. It focuses the diner's attention on the raw quality rather than just the cooking method.

最好的厨师往往只需要最简单的食材。 (The best chefs often only need the simplest ingredients.)

Health and Fitness: Fitness influencers and nutritionists use shícái when talking about 'meal prepping' or 'clean eating.' They might suggest '低脂食材' (low-fat ingredients) or '高蛋白食材' (high-protein ingredients).

You will also hear it in the context of food safety scandals—unfortunately, a topic of conversation in China. People might discuss '问题食材' (problematic ingredients) or '劣质食材' (inferior ingredients) when talking about news reports. This has led to a heightened public interest in 'traceable ingredients' (可追溯食材), where one can scan a QR code to see exactly where their food came from. Thus, the word shícái is now linked to transparency and trust.

为了家人的健康，她总是买最放心的食材。 (For her family's health, she always buys the most reliable ingredients.)

While 食材 (shícái) is a relatively straightforward word, English speakers often make mistakes by using it in contexts where other words are more appropriate, or by treating it grammatically like the English word 'ingredients.'

Mistake 1: Confusing 食材 with 调料 (Tiáoliào): In English, 'ingredients' covers everything: meat, salt, water, and spices. In Chinese, shícái usually excludes the seasonings. If you say '食材里盐太多了' (There's too much salt in the ingredients), it sounds slightly odd because salt is a tiáoliào (seasoning), not a shícái (raw food material).

错误: 请把所有的食材（包括盐和胡椒）都准备好。
正确: 请把所有的食材和调料都准备好。

Another common error is using shícái when you mean 'dish' or 'vegetable' (菜 - cài). If you are at a restaurant and you want to say 'This dish is delicious,' you should say '这道菜很好吃.' If you say '这个食材很好吃,' you are specifically complimenting the raw quality of the main ingredient (like the beef itself), not the way it was cooked. Use shícái when you want to be technical or focus on the raw material.

A more subtle mistake is confusing shícái with 原料 (yuánliào). While they are synonyms, yuánliào is a broader industrial term. You might use yuánliào when talking about the chemical components of a processed food item in a factory setting. In a home kitchen or a restaurant, shícái is the much more natural, 'foodie' term. Using yuánliào at a dinner party might make it sound like you're talking about a science experiment rather than a meal.

不要把食材和餐具放在一起。 (Don't put the ingredients and the tableware together.) - Here, 'shícái' is perfect because it refers to the raw food.

Mistake 2: Overusing it in casual conversation: If you're just telling your roommate you're going to the store to get food for dinner, just say '去买菜' (go buy vegetables/food). Saying '去买食材' sounds a bit like you're filming a cooking show or starting a professional project. It's not 'wrong,' but it's more formal than necessary for a quick errand.

Finally, remember that shícái refers to the *raw* state. Once the ingredients are mixed and cooked into a final product, we stop calling them shícái and start calling them the name of the dish. You wouldn't point to a finished cake and say 'These ingredients are sweet.' You would say 'The ingredients *used* in this cake were very high quality.'

In Chinese, there are several words that translate to 'ingredient' or 'material,' and choosing the right one depends entirely on the context and what specific part of the 'ingredient' you are referring to. Here is a breakdown of the most common alternatives to 食材 (shícái).

原料 (yuánliào): This is 'raw material' in a general sense. While shícái is specifically for food, yuánliào can be used for anything—plastic, oil, or food. In food science, it refers to the base substances.
配料 (pèiliào): These are 'side ingredients' or 'accompaniments.' If beef is the shícái (main ingredient), then the onions and peppers might be called the pèiliào. It also refers to the list of additives on a snack package.

这道菜的食材是鱼，配料是姜和葱。 (The main ingredient of this dish is fish; the side ingredients are ginger and scallions.)

Another important word is 调料 (tiáoliào), which means 'seasonings' or 'condiments' (salt, soy sauce, etc.). As mentioned before, shícái usually refers to the bulk food items, while tiáoliào refers to the things added for flavor. If you are following a recipe, it will often be divided into two sections: shícái and tiáoliào.

Then there is 成分 (chéngfèn). This means 'component' or 'ingredient' in a chemical or nutritional sense. If you are looking at the nutritional label to see how much protein or sugar is in something, you are looking at the chéngfèn. You wouldn't call a carrot a chéngfèn unless you were analyzing it in a lab; in the kitchen, it's a shícái.

这种饮料的成分非常复杂。 (The components/ingredients of this drink are very complex.)

Comparison Table

食材 (shícái): Raw food materials (vegetables, meat). Focus on culinary quality.
原料 (yuánliào): General raw materials. Industrial or base substances.
配料 (pèiliào): Side ingredients or additives in processed food.
调料 (tiáoliào): Seasonings (salt, spices).
成分 (chéngfèn): Chemical or nutritional components.

Lastly, in very informal settings, people just use 东西 (dōngxi) or 菜 (cài). '锅里放了什么东西？' (What things/ingredients did you put in the pot?). This is common among family and friends. However, if you want to sound like you know what you're doing in the kitchen, sticking with shícái for your main components is the best choice.

为了保证味道，我们只用当季的食材。 (To guarantee flavor, we only use seasonal ingredients.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient Chinese, the word '材' was often used to describe a person's talent (e.g., 天才 - genius). So, '食材' can be poetically thought of as the 'talent' or 'potential' of the food.

Pronunciation Guide

UK shí cái

US shí cái

In Chinese, both syllables carry equal weight as they both have full tones.

Rhymes With

时 (shí) 石 (shí) 拾 (shí) 才 (cái) 材 (cái) 财 (cái) 裁 (cái) 台 (tái)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'cai' like 'kai'. It should be a 'ts' sound.
Missing the rising tone on both syllables, making it sound flat.
Confusing 'shi' with 'si' (no retroflex).
Pronouncing 'cai' like 'chay'.
Dropping the 'i' sound in 'shí'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are relatively simple and common in daily life.

Writing 3/5

The character '材' is easy, but '食' has several strokes and requires some practice.

Speaking 2/5

Two second tones are easy to pronounce if you remember the rising pitch.

Listening 2/5

Distinct sound, unlikely to be confused with other common words in a food context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

食 (eat) 菜 (vegetable/dish) 买 (buy) 做 (do/make) 好 (good)

Learn Next

调料 (seasoning) 配料 (accompaniment) 烹饪 (cooking) 营养 (nutrition) 新鲜 (fresh)

Advanced

有机 (organic) 可追溯性 (traceability) 供应链 (supply chain) 药食同源 (medicine/food same source)

Grammar to Know

The 'Ba' (把) Structure with 食材

请把食材洗干净。 (Please wash the ingredients clean.)

Measure Words for 食材 (种/样)

这道菜用了三种食材。 (This dish uses three kinds of ingredients.)

Adjectives with 'De' (的) modifying 食材

他买了非常昂贵的食材。 (He bought very expensive ingredients.)

Nouns acting as adjectives for 食材

海鲜食材 (seafood ingredients).

食材 as a collective subject

食材都准备好了。 (The ingredients are all ready.)

Examples by Level

我要去买食材。

I want to go buy ingredients.

Subject + 要 (want) + 去 (go) + 买 (buy) + 食材 (object).

这些食材很便宜。

These ingredients are very cheap.

这些 (these) + 食材 + 很 (very) + 便宜 (cheap).

这是做饭的食材。

These are ingredients for cooking.

这是 (this is) + [做饭的 (for cooking)] + 食材.

食材在哪里？

Where are the ingredients?

食材 + 在 (at) + 哪里 (where)?

我喜欢新鲜的食材。

I like fresh ingredients.

Subject + 喜欢 (like) + [新鲜的 (fresh)] + 食材.

有很多食材。

There are many ingredients.

有 (there are) + 很多 (many) + 食材.

食材准备好了。

The ingredients are ready.

食材 + 准备好了 (prepared/ready).

买什么食材？

What ingredients to buy?

买 (buy) + 什么 (what) + 食材?

我们需要准备做蛋糕的食材。

We need to prepare the ingredients for making a cake.

准备 (prepare) is a common verb used with 食材.

新鲜的食材是好菜的关键。

Fresh ingredients are the key to a good dish.

食材 can be the subject of a sentence followed by 是 (is).

超市里的食材非常丰富。

The ingredients in the supermarket are very abundant.

丰富 (abundant) describes the variety of ingredients.

你在哪里买这些食材？

Where do you buy these ingredients?

Question structure: [在 + place] + 买 + 食材.

这种食材很难找。

This kind of ingredient is hard to find.

使用 '这种' (this kind) to specify a type of ingredient.

我们要挑选最优质的食材。

We need to select the highest quality ingredients.

挑选 (select/pick) + 优质 (high quality) + 食材.

这些食材够做四个人吃的饭吗？

Are these ingredients enough to cook a meal for four people?

够 (enough) + verb + [amount] + 的饭.

把食材洗干净再切。

Wash the ingredients clean before cutting them.

把 (ba-structure) + 食材 + [action].

为了健康，他只选用天然食材。

For health, he only chooses natural ingredients.

选用 (select and use) is more formal than just 买.

这里的食材都是从农场直接运来的。

The ingredients here are all transported directly from the farm.

从...直接运来的 (directly transported from...).

合理的食材搭配能让营养更均衡。

Reasonable ingredient pairing can make nutrition more balanced.

食材搭配 (ingredient pairing) is a common noun phrase.

厨师正在对食材进行初步加工。

The chef is performing preliminary processing on the ingredients.

对...进行 (to perform/conduct... on something).

这种食材的储存方法很重要。

The storage method for this ingredient is very important.

储存方法 (storage method) + 很重要.

有些食材不适合一起煮。

Some ingredients are not suitable to be cooked together.

不适合 (not suitable) + 一起 (together) + verb.

这种火锅食材在冬天很受欢迎。

This kind of hotpot ingredient is very popular in winter.

受欢迎 (popular/well-received).

我们要确保食材的安全性。

We need to ensure the safety of the ingredients.

确保 (ensure) + 食材的安全性 (safety).

这家餐厅以其独特的食材而闻名。

This restaurant is famous for its unique ingredients.

以...而闻名 (known for/famous for...).

随着生活水平的提高，人们对食材的要求也越来越高。

With the improvement of living standards, people's requirements for ingredients are also getting higher.

随着...的提高 (with the improvement of...).

这些食材如果没有妥善处理，会影响口感。

If these ingredients are not handled properly, it will affect the mouthfeel.

妥善处理 (properly handle) + 影响口感 (affect mouthfeel).

顶级厨师往往能发掘出普通食材的魅力。

Top chefs are often able to discover the charm of ordinary ingredients.

发掘...的魅力 (discover/unearth the charm of...).

我们要抵制那些来源不明的食材。

We should boycott ingredients of unknown origin.

来源不明 (unknown origin) + 食材.

这些有机食材的价格比普通的贵一倍。

The price of these organic ingredients is twice as expensive as ordinary ones.

比...贵一倍 (twice as expensive as...).

好的食材本身就是一种美味。

Good ingredients themselves are a kind of delicacy.

本身 (itself) + 就是 (is exactly).

食材的季节性是中餐文化的重要组成部分。

The seasonality of ingredients is an important part of Chinese food culture.

季节性 (seasonality) + 重要组成部分 (important component).

粤菜的精髓在于对食材原汁原味的追求。

The essence of Cantonese cuisine lies in the pursuit of the original flavor of the ingredients.

精髓在于 (the essence lies in) + 对...的追求 (pursuit of...).

为了寻找最正宗的食材，他不惜长途跋涉。

In order to find the most authentic ingredients, he did not hesitate to travel long distances.

不惜 (not hesitate to/not spare) + 成语 (long-distance travel).

食材的可追溯性已成为现代餐饮业的新标准。

The traceability of ingredients has become a new standard in the modern catering industry.

可追溯性 (traceability) + 现代餐饮业 (modern catering industry).

这种烹饪方式能够最大限度地保留食材的营养成分。

This cooking method can maximize the retention of the nutritional components of the ingredients.

最大限度地 (to the maximum extent) + 保留 (retain).

在饥荒年代，人们不得不利用一切可以找到的食材。

In times of famine, people had to utilize every ingredient they could find.

不得不 (have no choice but to) + 利用 (utilize).

高超的厨艺可以弥补食材本身的某些缺陷。

Superb culinary skills can compensate for certain defects in the ingredients themselves.

弥补 (compensate/make up for) + 缺陷 (defect/flaw).

这些食材在不同的文化背景下有着截然不同的处理方式。

These ingredients have completely different handling methods under different cultural backgrounds.

文化背景 (cultural background) + 截然不同 (completely different).

由于环境污染，某些珍稀食材正面临灭绝的危险。

Due to environmental pollution, certain rare ingredients are facing the danger of extinction.

面临...的危险 (face the danger of...).

食材之于厨师，犹如同笔墨之于诗人。

Ingredients are to a chef what brush and ink are to a poet.

A之于B，犹如C之于D (A is to B what C is to D) - a high-level analogy.

当季食材的匮乏迫使厨师们发挥出惊人的创造力。

The scarcity of seasonal ingredients forced the chefs to exert amazing creativity.

匮乏 (scarcity/dearth) + 迫使 (force/compel).

所谓匠心，便是在平凡的食材中雕琢出不凡的意境。

The so-called 'craftsman's heart' is to carve out an extraordinary artistic conception from ordinary ingredients.

所谓...便是 (the so-called... is just...) + 雕琢 (carve/refine).

在物欲横流的时代，回归食材本源成了一种奢望。

In an era of rampant materialism, returning to the origin of ingredients has become a luxury.

物欲横流 (rampant materialism) + 奢望 (extravagant hope/luxury).

食材的全球化流通在丰富餐桌的同时，也带来了生物安全隐患。

While the global circulation of ingredients enriches the dining table, it also brings biosecurity risks.

在...的同时 (while... at the same time) + 隐患 (hidden danger).

真正的大师从不堆砌名贵食材，而是讲究五味的调和。

True masters never pile up expensive ingredients but rather emphasize the harmony of the five flavors.

从不 (never) + 堆砌 (pile up/stack) + 讲究 (be particular about).

食材的选取往往折射出一个民族对自然的敬畏之心。

The selection of ingredients often reflects a nation's reverence for nature.

折射出 (reflect/mirror) + 敬畏之心 (heart of reverence).

通过对食材微观结构的分析，我们能更好地理解烹饪中的化学反应。

Through the analysis of the microstructure of ingredients, we can better understand the chemical reactions in cooking.

通过对...的分析 (through the analysis of...).

Common Collocations

新鲜食材

天然食材

当地食材

准备食材

挑选食材

处理食材

优质食材

食材清单

食材搭配

剩余食材

Common Phrases

食材包

— A meal kit containing pre-measured ingredients.

现在的年轻人喜欢买食材包做饭。

生鲜食材

— Fresh/raw food materials, usually perishables.

生鲜食材需要冷藏保存。

高端食材

— High-end or luxury ingredients (e.g., truffles, wagyu).

这顿饭用了不少高端食材。

季节性食材

— Seasonal ingredients that are fresh at certain times.

餐厅的菜单会根据季节性食材调整。

有机食材

— Organic ingredients grown without pesticides.

有机食材的价格通常比较贵。

廉价食材

— Cheap or low-cost ingredients.

虽然是廉价食材，但味道很好。

进口食材

— Ingredients imported from other countries.

这家西餐厅使用很多进口食材。

野生食材

— Wild ingredients (e.g., wild mushrooms).

野生食材的味道往往更鲜美。

素食食材

— Vegetarian ingredients.

这里提供各种各样的素食食材。

食材供应商

— Ingredient supplier.

他是几家大餐厅的食材供应商。

Often Confused With

食材 vs 调料 (tiáoliào)

Tiáoliào are seasonings (salt, pepper), while shícái are the bulk food items (meat, veg).

食材 vs 原料 (yuánliào)

Yuánliào is more general 'raw materials' (can be non-food); shícái is specifically food.

食材 vs 菜 (cài)

Cài can mean a finished dish or vegetables; shícái is specifically the raw ingredients.

Idioms & Expressions

"巧妇难为无米之炊"

— Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice. It means one cannot achieve something without the necessary materials.

没有食材，厨师也巧妇难为无米之炊。

Common Proverb

"原汁原味"

— Original juice and original flavor. Used to describe food that preserves its natural taste.

我们要保留食材的原汁原味。

Common Phrase

"药食同源"

— Medicine and food come from the same source. The idea that food is medicine.

中医讲究药食同源，食材的选择很重要。

Traditional Philosophy

"粗茶淡饭"

— Coarse tea and simple rice. Refers to very simple, humble food materials.

他过着粗茶淡饭的生活。

Idiom

"山珍海味"

— Delicacies from the mountains and the sea. Refers to expensive and rare ingredients.

桌上摆满了山珍海味。

Idiom

"食不厌精"

— One does not tire of refined food. Refers to being very particular about the quality of ingredients.

他在吃这方面真是食不厌精。

Literary (Confucius)

"就地取材"

— To draw materials from local sources. Using whatever ingredients are available nearby.

在野外做饭只能就地取材。

Idiom

"取精用弘"

— To select the essence and use it widely. Selecting the best ingredients for a purpose.

挑选食材要取精用弘。

Formal

"五味杂陈"

— A mix of five flavors. Metaphorically refers to complex emotions, but literally refers to ingredients.

各种食材混合在一起，五味杂陈。

Idiom

"食而无味"

— To eat without tasting. Usually because the ingredients are poor or the person is distracted.

食材不好，做出来的菜也食而无味。

Formal

Easily Confused

食材 vs 配料 (pèiliào)

Both mean 'ingredients' in recipes.

Pèiliào often refers to secondary ingredients or additives in processed food. Shícái is the primary food material.

主料是肉，配料是辣椒。

食材 vs 成分 (chéngfèn)

Both refer to what is inside food.

Chéngfèn is used for chemical or nutritional components (e.g., vitamins, fat). Shícái is the physical food item.

这些食材的营养成分很高。

食材 vs 材料 (cáiliào)

Both contain 'cái' and mean materials.

Cáiliào is very broad (building materials, data, etc.). Shícái is only for food.

做饭的材料 = 食材。

食材 vs 食物 (shíwù)

Both refer to food.

Shíwù is a general word for 'food' as a category. Shícái is food as a 'material' for cooking.

冰箱里有很多食物，但没有做菜的食材。

食材 vs 主料 (zhǔliào)

Both refer to what you cook with.

Zhǔliào is the 'main' ingredient. Shícái is the general term for all ingredients.

牛肉是这道菜的主料。

Sentence Patterns

我买[食材]。

我买食材。

[Adjective]的食材很[Adjective]。

新鲜的食材很好。

为了[Purpose]，我们要准备[食材]。

为了做晚饭，我们要准备食材。

[Place]的食材以[Quality]而闻名。

这个市场的食材以新鲜而闻名。

对食材[Property]的追求是[Concept]的关键。

对食材原汁原味的追求是粤菜的关键。

食材之于[Person]，犹如[Item]之于[Person]。

食材之于厨师，犹如同笔墨之于诗人。

[Verb]食材的过程很[Adjective]。

准备食材的过程很辛苦。

这[Measure Word][食材]多少钱？

这种食材多少钱？

Word Family

Nouns

食材 (ingredient)

材料 (material)

原料 (raw material)

器材 (equipment/apparatus)

Verbs

选用 (select and use)

备材 (prepare materials)

选材 (select materials)

Adjectives

材大难用 (talented but hard to use/large material hard to use)

烹饪 (cooking)

厨房 (kitchen)

新鲜 (fresh)

采购 (purchasing/sourcing)

营养 (nutrition)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in culinary, lifestyle, and health contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using '个' as a measure word. → 使用 '种' 或 '样'。
Saying '三个食材' sounds like you are counting three individual pieces of food. '三种食材' means three types of ingredients, which is usually what you mean.
Including salt/spices in '食材'. → 将盐和香料称为 '调料'。
While 'ingredients' in English is all-encompassing, '食材' usually excludes seasonings. Use '食材和调料' to be precise.
Calling a finished dish '食材'. → 称成品为 '菜' 或 '料理'。
'食材' only refers to the raw, unprocessed state. Once it's a meal, it's no longer 'shícái.'
Using '原料' in a home cooking context. → 在家里使用 '食材'。
'原料' sounds industrial or like you're in a factory. '食材' is the warm, culinary term for the kitchen.
Confusing '食材' with '食物'. → '食物' is the general category; '食材' is the material for a recipe.
You can say 'there is no food (食物) in the house,' but you say 'I need to buy ingredients (食材) for the soup.'

Tips

Learn the 'Cái' Family

The character '材' (material) is very productive. Once you know '食材,' you can easily learn '器材' (equipment), '木材' (timber), '钢材' (steel), and '教材' (teaching materials). They all follow the logic of '[Category] + Material.'

The Soul of the Dish

In many Chinese culinary traditions, especially Cantonese, the '食材' is seen as the soul. If you want to compliment a chef in a way that shows you understand the culture, praise the '食材' they selected rather than just the spices.

Use with '挑选' (Tiāoxuǎn)

A very common verb-noun pairing is '挑选食材' (selecting ingredients). This implies a careful, discerning process of choosing the best quality items at a market.

Look for the '生鲜' Sign

In Chinese supermarkets, '食材' are often found in the '生鲜' (shēngxiān - fresh/live) department. This is where you'll find the most 'shícái' in their rawest forms.

食材 vs. 调料

When organizing your kitchen or a recipe, keep '食材' (meats, veggies, grains) separate from '调料' (sauces, spices). This distinction is key to following Chinese recipes correctly.

Seasonal Eating

Try to learn the phrase '时令食材' (seasonal ingredients). Chinese culture places a high value on eating what is in season for better health and flavor.

Sound Like a Pro

If you are hosting a dinner party, saying '我为今晚准备了一些特殊的食材' (I prepared some special ingredients for tonight) sounds much more impressive than just saying 'I bought some food.'

Listen for 'Yǒujī'

You will often hear '有机食材' (organic ingredients) in health-conscious circles. It's a great way to practice hearing the word in a modern, relevant context.

Recipe Headings

If you ever write a blog post or a social media update about cooking in Chinese, use '食材' as your main heading for the ingredients list. It's the most standard way to do it.

Material for Eating

Just remember: 食 (Eat) + 材 (Material). It's the physical 'stuff' you eat. This literal translation will ensure you never forget the meaning.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'shí' as 'SHE eats' and 'cái' as 'the CAKE material.' She eats the cake ingredients (shícái).

Visual Association

Imagine a chef standing in front of a table full of raw wood (材) that magically turns into fresh vegetables and meat (食).

Word Web

食 (eat) 材 (material) 食品 (food products) 木材 (timber) 原料 (raw material) 调料 (seasoning) 配料 (accompaniment) 主料 (main ingredient)

Challenge

Go to your kitchen, point at three items (e.g., an egg, a carrot, a piece of chicken), and say '这是一个食材' (This is an ingredient) for each.

Word Origin

The term 食材 is a modern compound. '食' (shí) dates back to oracle bone script, depicting a food container with a lid. '材' (cái) consists of '木' (wood) and '才' (ability/potential), originally referring to timber as a material.

Original meaning: Originally, '材' referred to timber or raw materials for building. Combined with '食', it specifically designates materials for eating.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be aware that some traditional Chinese 'shícái' (like certain wild animals or shark fins) are now controversial or illegal due to conservation efforts.

English speakers often group salt and spices as 'ingredients,' but in Chinese, those are 'tiáoliào.' 'Shícái' is for the 'real' food items.

A Bite of China (舌尖上的中国) - A documentary series that focuses heavily on local ingredients. MasterChef China - A show where the word '食材' is used constantly by judges. Li Ziqi (李子柒) - Famous YouTuber whose videos show the entire process of sourcing '食材' from the wild.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Grocery Shopping

买食材 (buy ingredients)
新鲜食材 (fresh ingredients)
食材区 (ingredient section)
挑选食材 (pick ingredients)

Cooking at Home

准备食材 (prepare ingredients)
处理食材 (process/clean ingredients)
食材清单 (ingredient list)
剩余食材 (leftover ingredients)

Dining Out

食材来源 (source of ingredients)
高端食材 (high-end ingredients)
注重食材 (focus on ingredients)
天然食材 (natural ingredients)

Health and Diet

健康食材 (healthy ingredients)
素食食材 (vegetarian ingredients)
食材搭配 (ingredient pairing)
有机食材 (organic ingredients)

Professional Kitchen

主料和辅料 (main and side ingredients)
食材成本 (ingredient cost)
食材损耗 (ingredient wastage)
食材供应商 (ingredient supplier)

Conversation Starters

"你通常去哪里买做饭的食材？ (Where do you usually go to buy cooking ingredients?)"

"你觉得这道菜里哪种食材最好吃？ (Which ingredient in this dish do you think is the best?)"

"你做饭的时候会特别注重食材的新鲜度吗？ (Do you pay special attention to the freshness of ingredients when you cook?)"

"你知道哪些食材搭配在一起对身体好吗？ (Do you know which ingredients paired together are good for the body?)"

"你喜欢尝试一些你以前没见过的食材吗？ (Do you like to try ingredients you haven't seen before?)"

Journal Prompts

写一写你今天为了准备晚饭买了哪些食材，它们看起来怎么样。 (Write about what ingredients you bought today for dinner and how they looked.)

描述一下你最喜欢的食材，并说明你为什么喜欢它。 (Describe your favorite ingredient and explain why you like it.)

谈谈你对‘新鲜食材比烹饪技术更重要’这个观点的看法。 (Discuss your thoughts on the view that 'fresh ingredients are more important than cooking techniques.')

如果你要开一家餐厅，你会如何挑选你的食材供应商？ (If you were to open a restaurant, how would you select your ingredient suppliers?)

回忆一次你因为用了不好的食材而做饭失败的经历。 (Recall a time you failed at cooking because you used poor ingredients.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. In Chinese culinary terms, salt is a '调料' (tiáoliào - seasoning). '食材' refers to the primary food items like vegetables, meat, or grains. However, in a very broad sense, you might find it in an 'ingredient list' (食材清单), but it's more accurate to call it a seasoning.

The most common measure word is '种' (zhǒng), which means 'kind' or 'type.' For example, '三种食材' (three kinds of ingredients). You can also use '样' (yàng) for varieties. Avoid using '个' (gè) as it sounds unnatural for this word.

No, for medicine you should use '药材' (yàocái). However, if you are talking about 'food therapy' where food is used as medicine, you can use '食材' in the context of '药食同源' (medicine and food from the same source).

Not necessarily, but it strongly implies raw materials. While frozen peas can be '食材,' the word is most frequently paired with '新鲜' (fresh) to emphasize quality. It wouldn't usually refer to a fully cooked, pre-packaged meal.

It is more formal and precise than '菜' (cài) or '东西' (dōngxi). It is the standard term used in professional cooking, cookbooks, and food marketing. In casual daily speech about going to the market, people usually say '买菜' (mǎi cài).

'原料' (yuánliào) is a broader term for 'raw materials' and can be used in any industry (like making plastic or steel). '食材' is specifically restricted to the culinary world. Using '原料' for cooking sounds a bit industrial or scientific.

It is rarely used metaphorically compared to '材料' (which can mean 'data' or 'a person's potential'). '食材' almost always refers to physical food materials.

You say '有机食材' (yǒujī shícái). This is a very common phrase in modern Chinese cities and high-end supermarkets.

You would usually say '我对某种食物过敏' (I am allergic to a certain food) or '这个菜里有什么成分？' (What components are in this dish?). '食材' is more about the cooking process than the allergy itself.

Yes, '食材' is a standard term used throughout the Chinese-speaking world, including mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, especially in the context of gastronomy.