[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"daily-2026-07-15":3},{"date":4,"status":5,"dateLayer":6,"allowQuiz":18,"podcastTopicKey":36,"bundle":37},"2026-07-15","published",{"dateStr":4,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"lunar":11,"lunarLabelZh":19,"lunarLabelEn":20,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"zodiacYearEn":23,"ganzhiYear":24,"solarTermToday":25,"currentSolarTerm":26,"nextSolarTerm":30,"festivals":35},"July 15, 2026","2026年7月15日","Wednesday","星期三",{"year":12,"month":13,"day":14,"isLeapMonth":15,"monthName":16,"dayName":17,"inRange":18},2026,6,2,false,"六月","初二",true,"六月初二","2nd day of the 6th lunar month","Horse","马","Year of the Horse","丙午",null,{"zh":27,"en":28,"dateStr":29},"小暑","Minor Heat","2026-07-07",{"zh":31,"en":32,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},"大暑","Major Heat","2026-07-23",8,[],"daily-2026-07-15",{"dateLayer":38,"hook":43,"word":84,"bands":102,"grammar":123,"quiz":141},{"dateStr":4,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"lunar":39,"lunarLabelZh":19,"lunarLabelEn":20,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"zodiacYearEn":23,"ganzhiYear":24,"solarTermToday":25,"currentSolarTerm":40,"nextSolarTerm":41,"festivals":42},{"year":12,"month":13,"day":14,"isLeapMonth":15,"monthName":16,"dayName":17,"inRange":18},{"zh":27,"en":28,"dateStr":29},{"zh":31,"en":32,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},[],{"tier":34,"category":44,"source":44,"titleEn":45,"titleZh":46,"titleZhPinyin":47,"noteEn":48,"allowGamify":18,"article":49,"insightEn":50,"todaySentenceZh":51,"todaySentencePinyin":52,"todaySentenceEn":53,"keyWords":54,"references":74,"cultureLink":80},"micro-culture","The Fiery Chili","辣椒","là jiāo","The chili pepper, or 辣椒 (làjiāo), made its way to China only a few centuries ago. Despite its relatively recent introduction, it has become a defining ingredient in Sichuan and Hunan cuisines, known for their bold and spicy flavors.","Chili peppers, known as 辣椒 (làjiāo) in Chinese, boast a vibrant history in China. Although not a native plant, the chili pepper was introduced to China around the 16th century. It quickly integrated into Chinese cuisine, particularly in regions like Sichuan and Hunan, where it now plays a crucial role in defining the local culinary identity[1]. The bold heat and distinct flavor of chili peppers have not only become a staple in these regions but have also spread to influence dishes across the entire country.\n\nSichuan cuisine, famous for its numbing spiciness, relies heavily on the combination of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns to create its signature 'mala' flavor—a mix of numbing and spicy sensations. Dishes such as Sichuan Hot Pot and Kung Pao Chicken are prime examples where chilies shine, making them beloved across China and beyond[2]. Meanwhile, in Hunan cuisine, known for its dry and aromatic spice, chili peppers are often used in abundance, emphasizing fresh and vibrant flavors. Both regions celebrate the heat of chilies, showcasing them in a variety of cooking techniques from stir-frying to pickling.\n\nThe use of chili peppers in Chinese cooking is not just about heat; it also adds depth and complexity to flavor profiles. The chili's ability to bring warmth and harmony to a dish is highly valued, especially in colder months. Moreover, the visual appeal of red chilies symbolizes good luck and happiness, making them a popular choice in festive dishes. As we reflect on the word 辣 (là), which means 'spicy' or 'hot,' it's clear how integral the chili has become in Chinese culinary traditions, influencing tastes and culinary practices that continue to evolve today.","Chili peppers, though introduced only in the 16th century, have deeply influenced Chinese culinary traditions.","今天吃辣椒。","Jīntiān chī làjiāo.","Eat chili peppers today.",[55,58,62,66,70],{"hanzi":46,"pinyin":56,"en":57},"làjiāo","chili pepper",{"hanzi":59,"pinyin":60,"en":61},"四川","Sìchuān","Sichuan",{"hanzi":63,"pinyin":64,"en":65},"湖南","Húnán","Hunan",{"hanzi":67,"pinyin":68,"en":69},"麻辣","málà","numb and spicy",{"hanzi":71,"pinyin":72,"en":73},"辛辣","xīnlà","spicy",[75,78],{"n":76,"text":77},1,"K. C. Chang, 'Food in Chinese Culture: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives'",{"n":14,"text":79},"Fuchsia Dunlop, 'Sichuan Cookery'",{"category":81,"slug":82,"label":83},"cuisine","sichuan-cuisine-art-of-mala","Sichuan Cuisine: The Art of Mala",{"slug":85,"hanzi":86,"pinyin":87,"meaning":88,"pos":89,"level":90,"audioUrl":91,"faq":92},"hsk-4/%E8%BE%A3-la4","辣","là","pepper; hot, spicy; cruel","n",4,"https://mandarintemple.com/wp-content/uploads/katemt_audio/l/La/la4.wav",[93,96,99],{"question":94,"answer":95},"How do you use 辣 in a sentence?","You can say '这个菜很辣' (Zhège cài hěn là) meaning 'This dish is very spicy.'",{"question":97,"answer":98},"Does 辣 only refer to food?","While it primarily describes the spiciness of food, 辣 can also describe harshness or cruelty in certain contexts.",{"question":100,"answer":101},"Are there synonyms for 辣?","Yes, you can also use 辣味 (làwèi) specifically to refer to the spicy flavor.",{"1-2":103,"3-4":108,"5-6":113,"7-9":118},{"sentenceZh":104,"pinyin":105,"en":106,"explainEn":107},"这个汤很辣。","Zhège tāng hěn là.","This soup is spicy.","Describes food as spicy.",{"sentenceZh":109,"pinyin":110,"en":111,"explainEn":112},"他不喜欢太辣的食物。","Tā bù xǐhuan tài là de shíwù.","He doesn't like very spicy food.","Expresses a preference regarding spiciness.",{"sentenceZh":114,"pinyin":115,"en":116,"explainEn":117},"辣味让这道菜更美味。","Là wèi ràng zhè dào cài gèng měiwèi.","The spiciness makes this dish more delicious.","Highlights how spiciness enhances flavor.",{"sentenceZh":119,"pinyin":120,"en":121,"explainEn":122},"他的话带有辣味。","Tā de huà dài yǒu là wèi.","His words carry a sharp edge.","Uses 'spicy' metaphorically to describe speech.",{"title":124,"pattern":125,"explainEn":126,"usageNote":127,"examples":128},"The use of 很 to intensify adjectives","很 + adjective","This pattern is used to emphasize the adjective, showing a greater degree of the quality.","Use 很 before adjectives to stress their intensity or presence.",[129,133,137],{"zh":130,"pinyin":131,"en":132},"这个菜很辣。","Zhège cài hěn là.","This dish is very spicy.",{"zh":134,"pinyin":135,"en":136},"天气很冷。","Tiānqì hěn lěng.","The weather is very cold.",{"zh":138,"pinyin":139,"en":140},"她很高兴。","Tā hěn gāoxìng.","She is very happy.",{"items":142,"reflectionPrompt":211},[143,154,162,170,180,185,194,203],{"id":144,"kind":144,"type":145,"prompt":146,"options":147,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":153},"meaning","mc","What does 辣 mean?",[148,149,150,151],"Spicy","Sweet","Sour","Salty",0,"辣 means 'spicy'.",{"id":155,"kind":155,"type":145,"prompt":156,"options":157,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":161},"pinyin","How is 辣 pronounced?",[87,158,159,160],"lǎ","lā","lài","The correct pronunciation is 'là'.",{"id":163,"kind":163,"type":145,"prompt":164,"options":165,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":169},"translate","How do you write \"spicy\" in Chinese?",[86,166,167,168],"甜","酸","咸","辣 is the Chinese character for 'spicy'.",{"id":171,"kind":171,"type":145,"prompt":172,"options":173,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":178,"audioText":179},"listening","Listen. What does the sentence mean?",[174,175,176,177],"This soup is a bit spicy.","This soup is a bit sweet.","This soup is a bit sour.","This soup is a bit salty.","The sentence describes the soup as slightly spicy.","这汤有点辣。",{"id":181,"kind":181,"type":181,"prompt":182,"answer":86,"accept":183,"explainEn":184},"fill","这个菜太___了。(This dish is too ___.).",[86],"The sentence means the dish is too spicy.",{"id":186,"kind":186,"type":145,"prompt":187,"options":188,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":193},"reading","这个菜太辣了！ — What does this sentence mean?",[189,190,191,192],"This dish is too spicy!","This dish is too sweet!","This dish is too sour!","This dish is too salty!","The sentence states that the dish is too spicy.",{"id":195,"kind":195,"type":145,"prompt":196,"options":197,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":202},"culture","Which cuisines are known for their use of 辣椒 (chili pepper)?",[198,199,200,201],"Sichuan and Hunan","Cantonese and Shanghainese","Fujian and Anhui","Jiangsu and Zhejiang","Sichuan and Hunan cuisines are famous for their spicy flavors.",{"id":204,"kind":204,"type":204,"prompt":205,"ordered":206,"explainEn":210},"order","Arrange into a correct sentence",[207,208,209,86],"这个","菜","很","This forms a correct sentence meaning 'This dish is very spicy.'","What is your favorite spicy dish and why?"]