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March 24, 2026
辣椒làjiāo(la4jiao1)
辣椒 refers to hot peppers or chilies, which are commonly used in Chinese cuisine to add spiciness and flavor to dishes. It can also refer to various types of peppers, both fresh and dried, and is a staple in many regional cooking styles across China, particularly Sichuan and Hunan.
Frequency#6436DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, 辣椒 is not just a flavor enhancer but also a symbol of regional identity, especially in places like Sichuan, where the love for spicy food is deeply ingrained in the culture. Festivals and local dishes often celebrate the use of辣椒.
Memory Tip
Think of 辣椒 (la4 jiao1) as 'la' being the sound of something spicy making you 'laugh' or 'cry' due to its heat. The character 辣 (spicy) combines the radical for 'grass' (艹) at the top, suggesting something that grows, and 'inside' the character is 'fire' (火), which adds to the idea of heat and spice!
Meanings of 辣椒
làjiāo(la4jiao1)
1hot pepper
2chili
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About 辣椒
辣椒Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6436Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 辣椒
Podcast: 辣椒
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AI Study Notes for 辣椒
Quick Contrast
辣椒 (làjiāo) vs 辣 (là) — 辣椒 refers specifically to the pepper itself, while 辣 describes the spiciness of a flavor or food.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 辣椒 (la4 jiao1) as 'la' being the sound of something spicy making you 'laugh' or 'cry' due to its heat. The character 辣 (spicy) combines the radical for 'grass' (艹) at the top, suggesting something that grows, and 'inside' the character is 'fire' (火), which adds to the idea of heat and spice!
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tones; 辣 (la4) is fourth tone and means 'spicy', while 椒 (jiao1) is first tone. In informal contexts, you might hear people simply say 辣 (la4) to refer to something spicy, but using 辣椒 is more precise when discussing the ingredient itself. Common collocations include 辣椒油 (chili oil) and 辣椒酱 (chili sauce).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 辣椒 connects with other food-related vocabulary. Focus on using it in the context of cooking or food preferences, and remember to practice with collocations to enhance your fluency in discussing cuisine.
Cultural Note
In China, 辣椒 is not just a flavor enhancer but also a symbol of regional identity, especially in places like Sichuan, where the love for spicy food is deeply ingrained in the culture. Festivals and local dishes often celebrate the use of辣椒.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 辣椒 with other types of peppers; for example, using 辣椒 when you mean 青椒 (green bell pepper). Remember, 辣椒 specifically refers to hot peppers.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 辣椒
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Grammar Patterns of 辣椒
辣椒 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
你可以在15分钟内做出一道便宜的____素菜。
You can cook a cheap veggie chilli in 15 minutes.
Example Sentences for 辣椒 (10)
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1
你可以在15分钟内做出一道便宜的辣椒素菜。
nǐ kě yǐ zài15 15 fēn zhōng nèi zuò chū yī dào biàn yí de là jiāo sù。
You can cook a cheap veggie chilli in 15 minutes.
2
我揭开一罐辣椒的盖子。
wǒ jiē kāi yī guàn là jiāo de gài zǐ。
I pried the top off a can of chilli.
3
切辣椒时要戴橡胶手套，因为辣椒会刺激皮肤。
qiē là jiāo shí yào dài xiàng jiāo shǒu tào， ， yīn wéi là jiāo huì cì jī pí。
Wear rubber gloves while chopping chillies as they can irritate the skin.
4
这要看你下多重的辣椒粉了。
zhè yào kàn nǐ xià duō zhòng de là jiāo fěn le。
It all depends on how heavy-handed you are with the paprika.
5
用油炸一下剩下的辣椒，如果需要再加点调味汁。
yòng yóu zhà yī xià shèng xià de là jiāo， ， rú guǒ xū yào zài jiā diǎn tiáo wèi。
Fry remaining peppers, adding a little more dressing if necessary.
Sweet meets heat: A chili pepper, soy and ginger sauce.
10
将辣椒切为4瓣.
jiāng là jiāo qiē wéi4 4.
Cut the peppers into quarters.
Cultural Notes for 辣椒
🏮Cultural insight
In China, 辣椒 is not just a flavor enhancer but also a symbol of regional identity, especially in places like Sichuan, where the love for spicy food is deeply ingrained in the culture. Festivals and local dishes often celebrate the use of辣椒.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western countries, the spice level is often milder and varies widely, whereas in many regions of China, especially the south, high levels of spiciness are a cultural norm and a point of pride.
Frequently Asked Questions about 辣椒
You can say, '我喜欢吃辣椒' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī làjiāo) meaning 'I like to eat chili peppers.'
There are many types of 辣椒, including fresh green chilies, dried red chilies, and various regional varieties like the small, very spicy bird's eye chili.
No, not all Chinese dishes use 辣椒; it is more common in certain regional cuisines, particularly those known for their spiciness.
