Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== měishí: 美食 - Delicious Food, Delicacy, Gourmet Food ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** meishi, 美食, delicious food in Chinese, Chinese gourmet food, Chinese cuisine, what does meishi mean, delicacy in Chinese, Chinese foodie, hǎochī vs měishí, Chinese food culture * **Summary:** 美食 (měishí) is a fundamental term in Chinese culture that goes beyond "delicious food." It refers to gourmet food, delicacies, or cuisine that is celebrated for its flavor, quality, and artistry. Learning "měishí" opens a window into the Chinese passion for food, from famous regional specialties to beautifully crafted dishes, and is an essential word for anyone wanting to travel, eat, and connect with people in China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** měishí (měi shí) * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** Delicious food, fine food, a delicacy, or gourmet cuisine. * **In a Nutshell:** "Měishí" is not just any food that tastes good; it's food elevated to an art form. Think of it as the difference between "a tasty snack" and "a famous local delicacy." It implies a higher level of quality, special preparation, cultural significance, or aesthetic appeal. It's the food you travel for, the food you photograph, and the food you passionately recommend to friends. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **美 (měi):** This character means "beautiful," "good," or "praiseworthy." It's often associated with aesthetics and high quality. Pictographically, it is sometimes said to depict a person (大) with a beautiful headdress (羊, though originally different), signifying beauty. * **食 (shí):** This character means "food" or "to eat." Its ancient form is a pictograph of a food container with a lid, clearly representing a meal. * When combined, **美食 (měishí)** literally translates to "beautiful food." This perfectly captures the essence of the word—it’s not just about sustenance, but about food that is pleasing to the senses, well-crafted, and culturally appreciated. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== Food is arguably the most important pillar of Chinese culture, encapsulated by the saying “民以食为天” (mín yǐ shí wéi tiān), meaning "The people consider food as heaven." The concept of **美食 (měishí)** is central to this philosophy. In Western culture, the term "gourmet food" often carries connotations of being expensive, exclusive, or associated with fine dining. While **美食** can certainly include high-end cuisine, its meaning is much broader and more democratic. A humble bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles or a perfectly fried scallion pancake from a street vendor can absolutely be considered **美食** if it represents the pinnacle of that specific dish. The pursuit of **美食** is a national pastime. It drives tourism, fuels social media, and is a primary way of showing hospitality and building relationships. Recommending a local **美食** spot to a visitor is a common gesture of goodwill. The concept is deeply tied to regional identity and pride, as cities and provinces are fiercely proud of their unique culinary specialties. Sharing a meal of **美食** is not just about eating; it's about sharing an experience, connecting with others, and appreciating the rich tapestry of Chinese culinary heritage. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **美食** is an everyday word used constantly in modern China. * **Travel and Tourism:** When planning a trip, Chinese people will invariably research the destination's famous **美食**. A common question is, "What **美食** is this city known for?" * **Social Media:** Platforms like Weibo, Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), and Douyin (TikTok) are flooded with posts tagged #美食. People love sharing photos and videos of the **美食** they're eating, whether at a fancy restaurant or a local night market. A person who does this is often called a "foodie" (吃货, chīhuò). * **Apps and Reviews:** Food review apps like Dianping (大众点评) are built around helping users discover **美食**. Reviews will often praise a dish by calling it "真正的美食" (zhēnzhèng de měishí) - "a true delicacy." * **Conversation:** It's a go-to topic for small talk. Friends will constantly ask each other, "Have you tried any good **美食** recently?" or give recommendations. The term is always positive and enthusiastic. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 中国有很多种**美食**。 * Pinyin: Zhōngguó yǒu hěn duō zhǒng **měishí**. * English: China has many kinds of delicious food. * Analysis: A simple, foundational sentence stating a fact. This is a great way to use the word in a general sense. * **Example 2:** * 我们去四川就是为了品尝当地的**美食**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen qù Sìchuān jiùshì wèile pǐncháng dāngdì de **měishí**. * English: We went to Sichuan specifically to taste the local delicacies. * Analysis: This shows how **美食** is a major motivation for travel. 品尝 (pǐncháng) means "to taste" or "to savor," a verb often paired with **美食**. * **Example 3:** * 你觉得这家餐厅的菜算得上是**美食**吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ juéde zhè jiā cāntīng de cài suàndeshàng shì **měishí** ma? * English: Do you think this restaurant's dishes can be considered gourmet food? * Analysis: This sentence highlights the high standard of **美食**. "算得上" (suàndeshàng) means "to be considered as," implying that not all food meets the criteria. * **Example 4:** * 夜市是寻找地道**美食**的好地方。 * Pinyin: Yèshì shì xúnzhǎo dìdào **měishí** de hǎo dìfang. * English: Night markets are a great place to find authentic delicacies. * Analysis: This example connects **美食** with authenticity (地道, dìdào) and accessible locations like night markets, showing it's not limited to fine dining. * **Example 5:** * 他是一个真正的**美食**家，对吃很讲究。 * Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge zhēnzhèng de **měishí**jiā, duì chī hěn jiǎngjiu. * English: He is a true gourmet; he's very particular about eating. * Analysis: This introduces the related term 美食家 (měishíjiā), a "gourmet" or "food connoisseur." Note how the core word **美食** forms the basis. * **Example 6:** * 这道菜不仅味道好，而且看起来也像一件艺术品，是视觉和味觉的**美食**。 * Pinyin: Zhè dào cài bùjǐn wèidào hǎo, érqiě kànqǐlái yě xiàng yí jiàn yìshùpǐn, shì shìjué hé wèijué de **měishí**. * English: This dish not only tastes good, but it also looks like a piece of art; it's a gourmet experience for both sight and taste. * Analysis: This advanced sentence emphasizes the aesthetic component of **美食**, connecting it to both visual (视觉) and taste (味觉) senses. * **Example 7:** * 我在我的博客上分享世界各地的**美食**攻略。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zài wǒ de bókè shàng fēnxiǎng shìjiè gèdì de **měishí** gōnglüè. * English: I share guides to delicacies from all over the world on my blog. * Analysis: This shows the modern, digital context of **美食**. A 攻略 (gōnglüè) is a "guide" or "walkthrough," a term borrowed from gaming that is now widely used for travel and food guides. * **Example 8:** * 对很多中国人来说，做饭不仅仅是为了填饱肚子，更是对**美食**的一种追求。 * Pinyin: Duì hěn duō Zhōngguórén láishuō, zuòfàn bùjǐnjǐn shì wèile tiánbǎo dùzi, gèngshì duì **měishí** de yì zhǒng zhuīqiú. * English: For many Chinese people, cooking isn't just about filling the stomach, but rather a pursuit of culinary excellence. * Analysis: This sentence captures the philosophical aspect of **美食** as a "pursuit" (追求, zhuīqiú), an ideal to strive for. * **Example 9:** * 这家店的烤鸭是北京有名的**美食**之一。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de kǎoyā shì Běijīng yǒumíng de **měishí** zhīyī. * English: This shop's roast duck is one of Beijing's famous delicacies. * Analysis: A very practical sentence for tourists, identifying a specific famous dish (烤鸭, kǎoyā) as a local **美食**. * **Example 10:** * 看到这些**美食**图片，我都流口水了。 * Pinyin: Kàndào zhèxiē **měishí** túpiàn, wǒ dōu liú kǒushuǐ le. * English: Seeing these pictures of delicious food is making my mouth water. * Analysis: A colloquial and expressive sentence. "流口水" (liú kǒushuǐ) literally means "to drool" and is the perfect expression for reacting to tempting **美食**. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common mistake for learners is confusing **美食 (měishí)** with **好吃 (hǎochī)**. * **美食 (měishí)** is a **noun** meaning "gourmet food" or "a delicacy." It refers to the //food itself// as a concept or category. * **好吃 (hǎochī)** is an **adjective** meaning "tasty" or "delicious." It //describes// the food. Think of it like "beauty" (noun) vs. "beautiful" (adjective). You wouldn't say "This flower is beauty." **Incorrect Usage:** `这个菜很美食。` (Zhège cài hěn měishí.) * **Why it's wrong:** You are using the noun **美食** as if it were an adjective. It's like saying "This dish is very gourmet-food." **Correct Usage:** * `这个菜很好吃。` (Zhège cài hěn hǎochī.) - "This dish is very tasty." (Using the correct adjective) * `这个菜是真正的美食。` (Zhège cài shì zhēnzhèng de měishí.) - "This dish is a true delicacy." (Using **美食** correctly as a noun) Essentially, all **美食** is **好吃**, but not all **好吃** food qualifies as **美食**. A simple apple can be **好吃**, but it's not typically considered a **美食**. Beijing Roast Duck is both **好吃** and a famous **美食**. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[好吃]] (hǎochī) - The adjective "tasty/delicious." The most direct way to describe food you enjoy. * [[小吃]] (xiǎochī) - "Small eats," snacks, or street food. Many famous local **美食** are actually **小吃**. * [[菜]] (cài) - Can mean "vegetable," "dish," or "cuisine." Often seen in cuisine names like [[川菜]] (Chuāncài - Sichuan Cuisine). * [[味道]] (wèidào) - Flavor, taste, or smell. You can say a **美食** has a wonderful **味道**. * [[美食家]] (měishíjiā) - A gourmet, a foodie, an epicure. A person who loves and is an expert on **美食**. * [[特产]] (tèchǎn) - A special local product. This often refers to food items that are famous in a particular region, which are almost always a type of **美食**. * [[餐厅]] (cāntīng) - Restaurant. A place where you go to eat **美食**. * [[烹饪]] (pēngrèn) - Cooking, culinary arts. The skill required to create **美食**. * [[吃货]] (chīhuò) - (Slang) A foodie. A more informal and self-effacing term than **美食家**. It literally means "eating goods," implying someone who just loves to eat.